Assisted living costs a national median of $6,200 per month ($74,400 per year), according to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025. That is up about 5% from $5,900 a month in the 2024 survey. Your state matters more than the national figure: statewide medians run from $4,369 a month in Mississippi to $12,096 in Hawaii.
Monthly cost by type of care
The same survey prices the other kinds of senior care (Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025, national medians). Assisted living sits below a nursing home and close to paying a non-medical caregiver at home.
| Care type | Per month |
|---|---|
| Assisted living | $6,200 |
| Nursing home, shared room | $9,581 |
| Nursing home, private room | $10,798 |
| In-home caregiver | $6,673 |
| Adult day care | $2,058 |
How much does memory care cost per month?
The CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025 does not publish a memory care figure, so this page gives none rather than an estimate. Communities often price memory care as assisted living rent plus a care fee for dementia support, so ask each community for both numbers in writing. Our memory care guide explains what the extra fee pays for.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Statewide assisted living medians from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025. Each state page lists its communities and its full cost table.
| Lowest-cost states | Monthly median | Annual median |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $4,369 | $52,425 |
| Alabama | $4,425 | $53,100 |
| Arkansas | $4,637 | $55,644 |
| North Dakota | $4,729 | $56,745 |
| South Dakota | $4,900 | $58,800 |
| Highest-cost states | Monthly median | Annual median |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $12,096 | $145,155 |
| Alaska | $9,882 | $118,578 |
| Massachusetts | $9,600 | $115,200 |
| Connecticut | $9,118 | $109,410 |
| New Jersey | $8,710 | $104,520 |
What the monthly fee covers
A median is a planning number, not a quote. Most communities charge a base rent for the apartment, meals and housekeeping, then add fees as care needs grow; some bundle care into one rate. How senior living pricing works lists the fees to ask about before you sign.
Who pays for it
Medicare does not pay for assisted living: Medicare.gov says "Medicare doesn't pay for long-term care." Most families pay from savings, income and the sale of a home, and some use long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance or, in some states, Medicaid waivers. See who pays for senior living for each program's rules and what Medicare does cover.
Show me assisted living in my state
Free to browse. Every state page shows its survey medians beside the communities.
