What Long-Term Care Really Costs in 2026: All 50 States, Ranked
Current median prices for home care, assisted living and nursing homes in every state, plus the number most people never calculate: how fast a typical care event drains savings.
The national picture in 2026
These are the latest median prices from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey, which polled providers nationwide from July through November 2025 and was released in March 2026. Half of families pay more than these figures, half pay less.
The 3-year math: what a real care event costs
Price per day is easy to shrug off. The total is not. Many care needs last for years, so we ran the numbers two ways.
Long-term care costs by state (2026)
Annual median costs. The last column shows how many years $250,000 of savings would cover a private nursing home room in that state. Type your state to jump to it.
| State | In-home care | Assisted living | Nursing home (semi) | Nursing home (private) | 3 yrs private room | Years $250k lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. median | $80,080 | $74,400 | $114,975 | $129,575 | $388,725 | 1.9 |
| Alabama | $61,776 | $53,100 | $100,010 | $105,441 | $316,323 | 2.4 |
| Alaska | $86,944 | $118,578 | $333,975 | — | — | — |
| Arizona | $86,944 | $75,000 | $100,375 | $137,240 | $411,720 | 1.8 |
| Arkansas | $57,200 | $55,644 | $89,425 | $96,725 | $290,175 | 2.6 |
| California | $91,520 | $84,000 | $146,000 | $182,135 | $546,405 | 1.4 |
| Colorado | $94,952 | $79,005 | $121,910 | $146,183 | $438,549 | 1.7 |
| Connecticut | $82,368 | $109,410 | $182,500 | $200,750 | $602,250 | 1.2 |
| Delaware | $80,080 | $91,200 | $173,923 | $181,588 | $544,764 | 1.4 |
| Florida | $73,216 | $67,320 | $124,100 | $146,000 | $438,000 | 1.7 |
| Georgia | $73,216 | $63,600 | $105,850 | $113,150 | $339,450 | 2.2 |
| Hawaii | $93,808 | $145,155 | $185,679 | $196,735 | $590,205 | 1.3 |
| Idaho | $88,088 | $62,100 | $125,925 | $146,000 | $438,000 | 1.7 |
| Illinois | $82,368 | $74,628 | $99,645 | $110,595 | $331,785 | 2.3 |
| Indiana | $80,080 | $67,665 | $107,310 | $123,918 | $371,754 | 2.0 |
| Iowa | $94,037 | $64,566 | $111,325 | $120,450 | $361,350 | 2.1 |
| Kansas | $77,220 | $71,700 | $104,025 | $108,770 | $326,310 | 2.3 |
| Kentucky | $74,360 | $66,330 | $116,618 | $135,050 | $405,150 | 1.9 |
| Louisiana | $59,488 | $61,950 | $91,250 | $96,908 | $290,724 | 2.6 |
| Maine | $101,816 | $98,460 | $167,718 | $178,850 | $536,550 | 1.4 |
| Maryland | $80,080 | $86,070 | $155,125 | $173,375 | $520,125 | 1.4 |
| Massachusetts | $91,520 | $115,200 | $173,375 | $189,800 | $569,400 | 1.3 |
| Michigan | $79,508 | $69,816 | $135,050 | $143,628 | $430,884 | 1.7 |
| Minnesota | $100,672 | $78,870 | $127,750 | $166,440 | $499,320 | 1.5 |
| Mississippi | $54,912 | $52,425 | $114,975 | $118,625 | $355,875 | 2.1 |
| Missouri | $75,504 | $64,800 | $80,893 | $91,250 | $273,750 | 2.7 |
| Montana | $86,944 | $72,900 | $107,675 | $114,975 | $344,925 | 2.2 |
| Nebraska | $82,368 | $76,200 | $100,521 | $110,595 | $331,785 | 2.3 |
| Nevada | $84,656 | $74,895 | $141,438 | $173,558 | $520,674 | 1.4 |
| New Hampshire | $91,520 | $96,300 | $146,913 | $161,330 | $483,990 | 1.5 |
| New Jersey | $86,944 | $104,520 | $153,300 | $173,375 | $520,125 | 1.4 |
| New Mexico | $68,640 | $71,400 | $109,500 | $127,597 | $382,791 | 2.0 |
| New York | $80,080 | $85,320 | $186,333 | $200,750 | $602,250 | 1.2 |
| North Carolina | $68,640 | $77,955 | $116,800 | $129,575 | $388,725 | 1.9 |
| North Dakota | $77,792 | $56,745 | $138,335 | $147,643 | $442,929 | 1.7 |
| Ohio | $77,792 | $73,230 | $110,230 | $124,666 | $373,998 | 2.0 |
| Oklahoma | $75,504 | $73,800 | $84,315 | $93,075 | $279,225 | 2.7 |
| Oregon | $91,520 | $82,494 | $201,115 | $221,373 | $664,119 | 1.1 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,792 | $77,760 | $143,445 | $164,250 | $492,750 | 1.5 |
| Rhode Island | $91,520 | $93,366 | $145,270 | $160,600 | $481,800 | 1.6 |
| South Carolina | $71,786 | $64,200 | $108,405 | $115,340 | $346,020 | 2.2 |
| South Dakota | $101,244 | $58,800 | $113,333 | $122,275 | $366,825 | 2.0 |
| Tennessee | $70,928 | $70,140 | $113,150 | $120,450 | $361,350 | 2.1 |
| Texas | $68,640 | $67,992 | $67,525 | $91,250 | $273,750 | 2.7 |
| Utah | $89,804 | $65,700 | $104,025 | $127,750 | $383,250 | 2.0 |
| Vermont | $102,960 | $103,167 | $169,360 | $186,333 | $558,999 | 1.3 |
| Virginia | $80,080 | $83,340 | $123,005 | $140,160 | $420,480 | 1.8 |
| Washington | $102,960 | $91,200 | $157,859 | $191,625 | $574,875 | 1.3 |
| West Virginia | $68,640 | $76,080 | $154,030 | $159,140 | $477,420 | 1.6 |
| Wisconsin | $82,940 | $78,480 | $127,750 | $147,825 | $443,475 | 1.7 |
| Wyoming | $105,248 | $63,900 | $118,990 | $131,081 | $393,243 | 1.9 |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026). In-home care based on 44 hours per week. “—” means the survey did not report a figure. 3-year and years-covered columns are ltcme.com calculations from those medians.
Most and least expensive states
Private nursing home room
Highest: Oregon ($221,373), Connecticut and New York ($200,750 each), Hawaii ($196,735), Washington ($191,625).
Lowest: Missouri and Texas ($91,250 each), Oklahoma ($93,075), Arkansas ($96,725), Louisiana ($96,908).
That is a gap of more than $130,000 a year for the same type of room. Where you expect to receive care matters as much as whether you need it.
Assisted living
Highest: Hawaii ($145,155), Alaska ($118,578), Massachusetts ($115,200), Connecticut ($109,410), New Jersey ($104,520).
Lowest: Mississippi ($52,425), Alabama ($53,100), Arkansas ($55,644), North Dakota ($56,745), South Dakota ($58,800).
In-home care
Highest: Wyoming ($105,248), Vermont and Washington ($102,960 each), Maine ($101,816), South Dakota ($101,244).
Lowest: Mississippi ($54,912), Arkansas ($57,200), Louisiana ($59,488), Alabama ($61,776), New Mexico ($68,640).
What it costs to insure against it
The 2026 Price Index from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance gives these benchmarks for traditional coverage with $165,000 in initial benefits and 3% compound inflation growth:
| Buyer | Approx. annual premium |
|---|---|
| Couple, both age 55 | $5,010 combined |
| Single woman, age 60 | $4,450 |
| Couple, both age 65 | $7,030 combined |
The same report found an Illinois couple, both 60, could be quoted anywhere from about $4,591 to $7,173 a year for comparable benefits. That 56% spread is the best argument there is for working with a broker who quotes multiple carriers. For a deeper look at policy types and quotes, see our 2026 long-term care insurance guide.
Hybrid (linked-benefit) policies
Many buyers now choose hybrid life or annuity policies with long-term care benefits instead. You fund them with a lump sum or a set number of payments, premiums are typically guaranteed not to rise, and if care is never needed, the money passes to heirs as a death benefit. Pricing depends heavily on age, health and how the benefit is structured, so a personalized illustration is the only reliable way to compare.
What to do with these numbers
Find your state’s real number
Use the table above, and look at the state where you or your parents expect to receive care, not just where you live now.
Run the 3-year math on your savings
Multiply your state’s annual cost by three and compare it to what you have set aside. That shortfall is your exposure.
Check whether you can still qualify
Coverage is health-underwritten. The best pricing goes to people who apply while healthy, usually in their 50s or early 60s.
Compare multiple carriers
Traditional and hybrid policies vary widely in price and design. An independent broker can line them up for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
Not for ongoing custodial care such as help with bathing, dressing or eating. Medicare covers limited skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay, with daily coinsurance after day 20 and no coverage after 100 days.
What is the most expensive state for long-term care?
For a private nursing home room, Oregon tops the 2026 data at $221,373 a year. Hawaii is the most expensive for assisted living at $145,155.
What is the cheapest state for nursing home care?
Missouri and Texas tie for the lowest private-room median at $91,250 a year.
How long does $250,000 last in a nursing home?
About 1.9 years in a private room at the national median, and as little as 1.1 years in Oregon. See the last column of the state table for your state.
Where does this data come from?
Care costs come from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, released March 2026. Premium benchmarks come from the 2026 AALTCI Long-Term Care Insurance Price Index. Totals and years-covered figures are our own calculations from those sources.
See if you qualify before your health decides for you
Take a short qualification check and get options from multiple carriers, traditional and hybrid, from an independent specialist.