How much does assisted living cost on average in the U.S. in 2026?

The national median assisted living cost in 2026 is approximately $4,500/month. Memory care averages around $5,760/month (+28% vs. assisted living). Skilled nursing home care averages $6,840/month long-term. Costs vary significantly by metro — San Francisco and NYC can exceed $7,000–$9,000/month for assisted living, while rural Midwestern markets may come in below $3,500/month. Use our interactive cost index to look up estimates for any of 150 U.S. cities.

How fast are senior care costs rising?

AllyKin's cost index models a 3.5% annual inflation rate, which aligns with historical trends from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. At 3.5%, a community that costs $4,500/month today will cost approximately $5,300/month in 5 years and $6,300/month in 10 years. Families planning for a parent who may need care in 3–5 years should budget for meaningfully higher costs than today's published rates.

Where can I find assisted living cost data for my city?

AllyKin's 2026 Senior Care Cost Index covers 150 U.S. metro areas with estimates for assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes. Access the full index at /costs, use the affordability calculator to model your specific situation, or search any of our city guides for local cost breakdowns and Medicaid waiver options. For journalism citations, cite the AllyKin Senior Care Cost Index (2026) with the URL allykin.com/costs.

Costs & Planning

2026 Senior Care Cost Index — Assisted Living, Memory Care & Nursing Home

AllyKin annual cost index: metro-level assisted living, memory care, and nursing home estimates across 150 U.S. cities with inflation trends and payment tools.

10 min readUpdated 2026-06-23By Rachel Morrison, Founder & Senior Care Navigator

Rachel founded AllyKin after navigating assisted living placement for her own family in Texas. She leads editorial on Medicaid, CMS ratings, and state inspection guides — email-first matching with no call spam.

This report summarizes AllyKin's 2026 Senior Care Cost Index — programmatic estimates for 150 metropolitan areas using local assisted living benchmarks, transparent multipliers for memory care (+28%) and nursing home (+52%) care, and a 3.5% annual inflation planning rate.

Use it for journalism citations, family budgeting, or comparing metros before touring. Per-facility quotes always vary — request all-in monthly pricing on every tour.

National benchmarks (2026)

Assisted living median: ~$4,500/month
Memory care median: ~$5,760/month (+28% vs AL)
Nursing home median: ~$6,840/month (+52% vs AL)
Planning inflation: ~3.5%/year nationally

Explore the full index

Citation

Cite as: AllyKin Senior Care Cost Index (2026). https://allykin.com/costs — metro estimates updated quarterly from HUD FMR context and Genworth-aligned benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does assisted living cost on average in the U.S. in 2026?: The national median assisted living cost in 2026 is approximately $4,500/month. Memory care averages around $5,760/month (+28% vs. assisted living). Skilled nursing home care averages $6,840/month long-term. Costs vary significantly by metro — San Francisco and NYC can exceed $7,000–$9,000/month for assisted living, while rural Midwestern markets may come in below $3,500/month. Use our interactive cost index to look up estimates for any of 150 U.S. cities.
How fast are senior care costs rising?: AllyKin's cost index models a 3.5% annual inflation rate, which aligns with historical trends from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. At 3.5%, a community that costs $4,500/month today will cost approximately $5,300/month in 5 years and $6,300/month in 10 years. Families planning for a parent who may need care in 3–5 years should budget for meaningfully higher costs than today's published rates.
Where can I find assisted living cost data for my city?: AllyKin's 2026 Senior Care Cost Index covers 150 U.S. metro areas with estimates for assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes. Access the full index at /costs, use the affordability calculator to model your specific situation, or search any of our city guides for local cost breakdowns and Medicaid waiver options. For journalism citations, cite the AllyKin Senior Care Cost Index (2026) with the URL allykin.com/costs.

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