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Care Home Cost Calculator UK 2026

Estimate the total cost of residential or nursing care based on NHS England data

Total cost estimates by duration

Council rate is the national median weekly cost from NHS England ASC-FR data. Self-funder estimate applies a 30% uplift, reflecting the typical cross-subsidy charged to privately paying residents.

Residential care home

Council rate: £1,196/week | Self-funder estimate: £1,555/week

DurationCouncil rateSelf-funder estimate
1 month£5,179£6,733
6 months£31,096£40,430
1 year£62,192£80,860
2 years£124,384£161,720
5 years£310,960£404,300

Nursing care home

Council rate: £1,239/week | Self-funder estimate: £1,611/week

DurationCouncil rateSelf-funder estimate
1 month£5,365£6,976
6 months£32,214£41,886
1 year£64,428£83,772
2 years£128,856£167,544
5 years£322,140£418,860

Residential and nursing care

Council rate: £1,229/week | Self-funder estimate: £1,598/week

DurationCouncil rateSelf-funder estimate
1 month£5,322£6,919
6 months£31,954£41,548
1 year£63,908£83,096
2 years£127,816£166,192
5 years£319,540£415,480

Short-term care

Council rate: £56/week | Self-funder estimate: £73/week

DurationCouncil rateSelf-funder estimate
1 month£242£316
6 months£1,456£1,898
1 year£2,912£3,796
2 years£5,824£7,592
5 years£14,560£18,980

Regional variation in residential care costs

Average weekly cost for residential care by English region, based on per-local-authority ASC-FR data. Self-funder annual estimate applies a 30% uplift.

RegionAvg weekly costAvg annual costSelf-funder annual est.
North West£1,257£65,364£84,968
East Midlands£1,350£70,200£91,260
West Midlands£1,361£70,772£91,988
North East£1,376£71,552£93,028
London£1,400£72,800£94,640
East of England£1,409£73,268£95,264
Yorkshire and the Humber£1,410£73,320£95,316
South East£1,425£74,100£96,356
South West£1,612£83,824£108,992

How the means test works

Your local authority will carry out a financial assessment to decide how much you contribute towards care costs. The thresholds below apply in England (2025-26).

Capital above £23,250

You pay the full cost of your care yourself (self-funder). The council will not contribute. This threshold has been frozen since 2010.

Capital £14,250 to £23,250

You contribute on a sliding scale. The council tops up the difference between your contribution and the care home fee. For every £250 (or part of £250) above £14,250, you are assumed to have £1 per week of "tariff income" added to your assessed contribution.

Capital below £14,250

The council pays for your care. You contribute only from your income (pensions, benefits), keeping a Personal Expenses Allowance of at least £28.25 per week.

Is your home counted?

Your home is counted as capital if you are going into permanent residential care. However, it is disregarded if your spouse, partner, a dependent child, or a relative aged 60 or over still lives there. It is also disregarded for the first 12 weeks of a permanent placement (the "12-week property disregard") and during any temporary or respite stay.

Cheapest and most expensive areas for residential care

Top 5 local authorities ranked by council-funded residential care cost (NHS England ASC-FR data).

5 lowest-cost areas

Local authority£/week
Wirral£886
Blackpool£967
Darlington£1,000
Sefton£1,039
Portsmouth£1,067

5 highest-cost areas

Local authority£/week
Devon£2,211
Gateshead£1,951
Wandsworth£1,918
Greenwich£1,867
South Gloucestershire£1,855

Related pages

Care Costs Hub
All care services and local authority data
Self-Funding Guide
What self-funders need to know
NHS vs Private
Compare NHS and private treatment options
Finance
Medical finance and payment options
Methodology
How we collect and present data

Frequently asked questions

How much does a care home cost per year?
The annual cost of a care home in England depends on the type of care and location. Based on NHS England ASC-FR data, the national median council-funded residential care rate is roughly £40,000-£50,000 per year. Self-funders typically pay 20-40% more — around £50,000-£70,000 per year. Nursing care homes cost more again. Use the tables on this page to see specific estimates by service type and duration.
Do I have to sell my house to pay for care?
Your home is included in the financial means test if you are moving into residential care permanently and no qualifying person (spouse, partner, dependent relative, or someone aged 60+) still lives there. However, you do not have to sell immediately — many councils offer a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA), effectively a loan secured against your home, so the sale can happen later. If your partner or a dependent still lives in the property, the home is disregarded from the means test entirely.
What's the difference between council-funded and self-funded care?
Council-funded care is paid for (wholly or partly) by your local authority after a financial means test. The council negotiates rates directly with care homes, typically at lower prices than self-funders pay. Self-funded care means you pay the full cost yourself because your capital exceeds the upper threshold (currently £23,250 in England). Self-funders generally pay 20-40% more than the council rate for the same placement, a practice known as cross-subsidisation.
Why is care more expensive in London?
Care home costs in London are higher due to significantly greater staff costs (London wages and the London Living Wage), higher property values and rents, elevated business rates, and the general cost of living. Care workers in London earn more than elsewhere, but providers also face higher turnover. These factors combine to push weekly fees 10-25% above the national average, depending on the borough.
Can I get financial help with care costs?
Several forms of financial help are available. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is fully funded by the NHS for people with a primary health need — it is not means-tested. Attendance Allowance (up to £110.40/week in 2025-26) is available to over-65s who need help with personal care, regardless of income. Local authority funding kicks in when your capital falls below £23,250. Veterans may qualify for additional support through the Armed Forces Covenant. A specialist care fees adviser (regulated by the FCA) can help you plan.

Data source: NHS England Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report (ASC-FR). Council rates are national medians; self-funder estimates apply a 30% uplift. Actual costs vary by provider, location and individual care needs. This page does not constitute financial advice. Source data published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.