Cost of Care in California
What in-home care, assisted living and a nursing home cost in California over 5 years, for a 78-year-old female who needs help with 3 of the 6 daily activities.
In California, over 5 years, in-home care has the lowest expected cost at $252,871 in today's dollars, against assisted living $353,152, nursing home, semi-private room $613,812, nursing home, private room $765,731. Expected cost counts only the years the person is expected to be alive.
The four options in California
| Option | First year | Expected cost over 5 years | Range across scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-home care (lowest) | $45,760 | $252,871 | $218,916 to $309,842 |
| Assisted living | $84,000 | $353,152 | $347,678 to $360,901 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $146,000 | $613,812 | $604,297 to $627,280 |
| Nursing home, private room | $182,135 | $765,731 | $753,861 to $782,532 |
Expected cost counts only the years the person is expected to be alive (CDC 2024 life table), in today's dollars. The range is a scenario range across three paths of decline and three price-growth cases, not a statistical interval.
What these figures rest on
- CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (2025 survey (July through November 2025); loaded 2026-10-11). California median annual prices: non-medical caregiver (44 hours a week), assisted living, nursing home semi-private and private room
- CDC NCHS, United States Life Tables, 2024 (NVSR 75-5) (United States Life Tables, 2024; loaded 2026-10-11). person-years lived by age, which sets the share of each year the person is expected to be alive
- BLS CPI-U Medical Care Services via FRED (CUSR0000SAM2) (CPI-U Medical Care Services; loaded 2026-10-11). price growth over historical windows, a proxy for the cost of care services
- 10-year Treasury constant maturity yield via FRED (DGS10) (FRED DGS10; loaded 2026-10-11). discount rate 5.22 percent, as of 2026-10-08
Not included: Housing and living costs at home (assisted living and nursing home fees include room and board), memory care (the survey prints no median), home modifications, medical care, the extra fees facilities charge for higher levels of care, and taxes.
Price care for your own situation
Enter the age, the daily activities that need help and how many years to plan for. You get the same four-way comparison with every source listed.
Compare care costs in California