How Much Does In-Home Care Cost Per Month? Hourly vs Monthly Rates
Key Takeaways
- The national median for in-home care is $35 per hour. At 44 hours a week, that is $6,673 per month or $80,080 per year (2025).
- Most families do not need 44 hours. At the same rate, 20 hours a week costs about $3,033 per month (our calculation).
- Where you live matters: from $24 per hour in Mississippi to $46 per hour in Wyoming (2025).
- Skilled nursing at home costs more: a median of $90 per hour or $160 per visit (2025).
- Medicare pays for in-home care only in limited cases. It does not pay for 24-hour care or for personal care alone.
You are trying to work out whether your mother, your father or your spouse can stay at home. Then you start calling agencies, and every price sounds different. One quotes by the hour. Another talks about a monthly package. A website shows a yearly figure that looks impossible. It is hard to compare them.
This article puts all of those numbers on the same footing. You will see the national medians per hour and per month, what the monthly figure really assumes, how the cost changes with the hours you need, and how prices differ by state. You will also see where Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits fit in. The cost figures come from the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey, the most recent edition published.
How Much Does In-Home Care Cost Per Month? The National Median
The 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey (published March 2026) reports these national medians for a non-medical caregiver:
| Rate | National median (2025) |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $35 |
| Daily | $219 |
| Monthly | $6,673 |
| Annual | $80,080 |
The hourly rate is what providers reported. The daily, monthly and annual figures are calculated from it. They assume 44 hours of care per week for 52 weeks. CareScout says this follows industry guidance for professional in-home caregivers. The hourly rate rose 3% from 2024, when it was $34.
“Non-medical caregiver” covers two services that CareScout now reports together: help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring and toileting, and homemaker help such as light cleaning and meal preparation.
Note: A month has about 4.33 weeks, not 4. CareScout turns the annual figure into a monthly one by dividing by 12.
Hourly vs Monthly Rates: How the Numbers Connect
The monthly figure is not a price anyone charges. It is the hourly rate multiplied by a set number of hours. To estimate your own cost, use this formula:
Hours per week x hourly rate x 52 weeks / 12 months = monthly cost
Here is what the national median hourly rate of $35 produces at different levels of care. These are our calculations, not survey results:
| Hours of care per week | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 10 hours | $1,517 |
| 20 hours | $3,033 |
| 30 hours | $4,550 |
| 44 hours (CareScout’s basis) | $6,673 |
| 168 hours (24 hours a day, 7 days) | $25,480 |
The 168-hour row is a simple multiplication. It is not a typical price. CareScout does not publish a national median for live-in or 24-hour care, so ask local agencies how they price overnight and live-in coverage.
Two examples (our calculations at $35 per hour):
- A caregiver comes for 3 hours each morning, 5 days a week. That is 15 hours a week, or about $2,275 per month.
- A caregiver comes for 4 hours a day, 7 days a week. That is 28 hours a week, or about $4,247 per month.
Note: Your agency’s actual rate, minimum hours per visit and extra charges for nights or weekends can change these estimates. Ask for the full rate sheet in writing.
What Changes the Price of In-Home Care
Where You Live
Location is the biggest factor you cannot control. CareScout collects prices by metropolitan area, and the state medians show how wide the gap is. Monthly costs below assume 44 hours a week.
| State | Hourly | Monthly (44 hrs/week) |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $24 | $4,576 |
| Texas | $30 | $5,720 |
| Florida | $32 | $6,101 |
| New York | $35 | $6,673 |
| California | $40 | $7,627 |
| Colorado | $42 | $7,913 |
| Vermont | $45 | $8,580 |
| Wyoming | $46 | $8,771 |
Wyoming costs almost twice as much as Mississippi for the same number of hours. Rates also keep rising: the national hourly median went from $34 to $35 between 2024 and 2025, so plan for increases from year to year. See in-home care costs for all 50 states to find your state’s median.
How Many Hours You Need
Hours are the part you can plan around, and the part that changes most over time. A caregiver who comes for a morning routine costs far less than one who covers a full workday. Start by listing the tasks that are hard right now, such as bathing, meals, medications and getting around. Then ask how many hours those tasks take across a week.
The Type of Care
Non-medical care and nursing care are priced differently, and the difference is large. The next section explains it.
Skilled Nursing at Home Costs More
Skilled nursing care at home, such as wound care or injections given by a licensed nurse, is priced higher than help with daily tasks. The 2025 survey added a category called skilled nursing in the home (private duty nurse). The national medians are $90 per hour and $160 per visit.
State hourly medians range from $42 in Mississippi to $207 in Wyoming. A few states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut and Louisiana, did not have enough data to report a figure.
In-Home Care vs Other Care Options
Whether staying home saves money depends on the hours. Here are the 2025 national medians side by side:
| Option | Monthly cost (2025) |
|---|---|
| In-home care, 20 hours/week | $3,033 (our calculation) |
| Adult day health care, 5 days/week | $2,058 |
| Assisted living | $6,200 |
| In-home care, 44 hours/week | $6,673 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $9,581 |
| Nursing home, private room | $10,798 |
At the national median rate, in-home care costs about the same as assisted living at roughly 41 hours a week (our calculation: $6,200 divided by about $152 per weekly hour). Below that, staying at home is usually less expensive. Above that, and especially for round-the-clock care, a facility can cost less. This compares fees only. Assisted living fees usually include housing and meals, while a home has its own costs, such as rent or mortgage, utilities and food. For a closer look at the other options, see our guides to assisted living and nursing homes.
Who Helps Pay for In-Home Care
Medicare
Medicare pays for part-time or intermittent skilled care at home, such as skilled nursing and therapy, if you are homebound and a doctor orders it. You pay nothing for covered home health services. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care at home, and it does not cover personal care, such as bathing or dressing, when that is the only care you need. Medicare also says it does not pay for long-term care in general.
Medicaid
Medicaid may help through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. A 1915(c) waiver lets a state build programs so people who need long-term care can get it at home or in the community instead of an institution. What each state offers, and who qualifies, varies. Our article on Medicaid spend-down explains how the financial rules work.
VA Benefits
Veterans who receive a VA Pension can qualify for Aid and Attendance, an increased monthly pension amount if they need help with daily functions such as bathing, eating or dressing. See our complete guide to in-home care for the current rates.
Long-Term Care Insurance
A policy may pay for home care, depending on its terms. Check the daily limit and the waiting period. Our article on whether long-term care insurance is worth it explains how benefits work.
To find programs near you, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Prices are only comparable if each agency counts the same things. Ask every provider:
- What is the hourly rate, and does it change for nights, weekends or holidays?
- Is there a minimum number of hours per visit or per week?
- What does the rate include, and what costs extra?
- How much notice do you need to start, change or stop service?
- Will you put the rate and terms in writing?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does in-home care cost per hour?
The 2025 national median is $35 per hour for a non-medical caregiver, up 3% from $34 in 2024. By state, it ranges from $24 in Mississippi to $46 in Wyoming. Skilled nursing at home has a median of $90 per hour.
How much does 24-hour in-home care cost per month?
CareScout does not publish a national median for 24-hour care. If you simply multiply the $35 national hourly median by 168 hours a week, the result is about $25,480 per month. Live-in and overnight care may be priced differently, so ask local agencies for a written quote.
Does Medicare pay for in-home care?
Only in part. Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled home health care if you are homebound and a doctor orders it. It does not cover 24-hour care at home, and it does not cover personal care when that is the only care you need.
Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living?
It depends on the hours. At the national median rates, in-home care costs about the same as assisted living ($6,200 per month) at roughly 41 hours a week. For fewer hours it is usually cheaper, and for round-the-clock care it usually costs more.
How much does a private duty nurse cost at home?
The 2025 national median for skilled nursing in the home is $90 per hour or $160 per visit. State hourly medians range from $42 in Mississippi to $207 in Wyoming.
Sources
- CareScout. “Cost of Care Survey 2025: Ranked Median Costs by State Data Tables.” https://assets.carescout.com/x/5c90319b6a/298701.pdf. Published: March 2026.
- CareScout. “Cost of Care.” https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care. Accessed: October 2026.
- CareScout / Genworth Financial. “CareScout Releases 2025 Cost of Care Survey Results.” https://investor.genworth.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1054/carescout-releases-2025-cost-of-care-survey-results. Published: March 2026.
- Medicare.gov. “Home Health Services Coverage.” https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services. Accessed: October 2026.
- Medicare.gov. “Long-Term Care Coverage.” https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care. Accessed: October 2026.
- Medicaid.gov. “Home & Community-Based Services 1915(c).” https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/home-community-based-services-authorities/home-community-based-services-1915c. Accessed: October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Elderly Veterans.” https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-elderly.asp. Accessed: October 2026.
- Administration for Community Living. “Eldercare Locator.” https://eldercare.acl.gov/home. Accessed: October 2026.
