What is the average assisted living cost in 2026?

The national median assisted living cost in 2026 is approximately $5,500 per month for a private studio with base level of care. State averages range from approximately $3,500/month (MS, AR, MO, GA) to $7,500+/month (DC, MA, CA, NJ, AK, HI). Memory care typically runs 30-50% higher than base AL.

What does assisted living cost include?

Base AL pricing typically includes: studio or one-bedroom apartment, three meals per day, light housekeeping, laundry, transportation to appointments, planned activities, 24-hour staffing for safety, and a base level of personal care help. Higher acuity is billed via level-of-care upcharges (typically $500-$2,500/month above base). Memory care, medication management, hospice support, and ancillary services may be add-ons.

Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for assisted living?

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Medicaid HCBS waivers in most states cover the personal-care services delivered inside an AL community for income/asset eligible residents, but NOT room and board. Long-term care insurance commonly reimburses AL up to a benefit cap. Most AL is private-pay or LTC-insurance funded.

How does AveeCare relate to assisted living?

AveeCare is software for non-medical home care across all 50 states. AL communities that operate an attached home-care or AL-waiver personal-care line use AveeCare for the visit-based side at $6 per active client per month. For pure facility-based eMAR + AL surveyor reporting, evaluate ALIS, Eldermark, August Health, PointClickCare AL, or MatrixCare AL.

Cost Reference

Assisted living cost by state in 2026: all 50 states

The 2026 assisted living cost by state reference. National median $5,500/month. State averages range $3,700-$7,300/month across all 50 states.

By Calvin Nesvig, Founding Partner·Updated May 3, 2026·6 min read

Quick answer

National median: $5,500/month for base assisted living in 2026.
Lowest cost: MS, AR, MO, NE, GA, AL, LA ($3,700-$4,000/month).
Highest cost: MA, NJ, AK, CA, NH, RI, HI, MD, CT ($6,500-$7,300/month).
Memory care typically runs 30-50% above base AL.
Level-of-care upcharges typically add $500-$2,500/month above base.

Quick answer 50-state cost grid What's included AveeCare role FAQ

50-state assisted living cost grid (2026)

Arkansas

$3,700/mo

Mississippi

$3,700/mo

Missouri

$3,800/mo

Alabama

$4,000/mo

Georgia

$4,000/mo

Louisiana

$4,000/mo

North Dakota

$4,000/mo

Oklahoma

$4,000/mo

South Dakota

$4,000/mo

Utah

$4,000/mo

South Carolina

$4,200/mo

Kentucky

$4,400/mo

Idaho

$4,500/mo

Nevada

$4,500/mo

New Mexico

$4,500/mo

North Carolina

$4,500/mo

Tennessee

$4,500/mo

Texas

$4,500/mo

West Virginia

$4,500/mo

Wyoming

$4,500/mo

Florida

$4,800/mo

Ohio

$4,800/mo

Pennsylvania

$4,800/mo

Wisconsin

$4,800/mo

Arizona

$5,000/mo

Illinois

$5,000/mo

Indiana

$5,000/mo

Iowa

$5,000/mo

Kansas

$5,000/mo

Michigan

$5,000/mo

Montana

$5,000/mo

Nebraska

$5,000/mo

Colorado

$5,500/mo

Maryland

$5,500/mo

Minnesota

$5,500/mo

Virginia

$5,500/mo

Oregon

$5,800/mo

Vermont

$5,800/mo

Maine

$6,000/mo

New York

$6,000/mo

California

$6,500/mo

Connecticut

$6,500/mo

Delaware

$6,500/mo

Hawaii

$6,500/mo

New Hampshire

$6,500/mo

Rhode Island

$6,500/mo

Washington

$6,500/mo

Alaska

$7,000/mo

New Jersey

$7,000/mo

Massachusetts

$7,300/mo

Sorted low-to-high. National median: $5,500/month. Estimates based on Genworth Cost of Care 2024 + 2026 inflation adjustment.

What base AL pricing typically includes

Included in base rate

Studio / 1BR apartment
3 meals/day + snacks
Light housekeeping + laundry
Activities + transportation
24-hour staffing for safety
Base personal care help

Common add-ons

Level-of-care upcharges ($500-$2,500/mo)
Memory care unit (+30-50%)
Medication management
Skilled nursing visits
One-time community fee ($2K-$10K)
Specialty diet, salon, transportation

AveeCare's role

AveeCare is software for non-medical home care, including AL communities that run an attached home-care or AL-waiver personal-care line. $6 / active client / month. Not a facility-eMAR replacement.

Compare AL software

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Accessed May 3, 2026.

Calvin Nesvig

Founding Partner, AveeCare

Builds home care software full-time and works with home care agencies on workflow and software fit every week.

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