How much does nursing care home cost in the UK?

The national median nursing care home cost in England is £1,227 per week, ranging from £114 to £6,973 depending on local authority. Costs vary by region — London and the South East are typically 10-15% above the national median, while the North East and Yorkshire are 10-15% below. See the full local authority breakdown below.

What's included in the nursing care home cost?

Care home with on-site qualified nurses for residents with complex medical needs — typically 25–40% more expensive than residential care without nursing. The cost typically includes basic accommodation/care, but may exclude additional services like physiotherapy, hairdressing, chiropody, or specialist diet supplements. Always ask the provider for an itemised quote and check what's covered before signing a contract.

Will my local council pay for nursing care home?

Whether the council pays depends on a means-tested financial assessment. In England, if you have capital above £23,250 (savings + home value if going into residential care) you must pay the full cost yourself. Below this threshold, the council contributes on a sliding scale until you reach £14,250 in capital, when they pay the full assessed cost.

Where is nursing care home lower-cost in the UK?

Based on the latest NHS England ASC-FR data, the lower-cost English local authorities for nursing care home include Redcar and Cleveland (£620/week), North East Lincolnshire (£662/week), Darlington (£782/week), Durham (£783/week), Wirral (£857/week). See the full ranking below.

How accurate is this data?

This data is sourced from NHS England's Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report (ASC-FR), the official annual government statistical publication on adult social care unit costs. We refresh the data automatically each year when the new release drops. Per-local-authority figures are real observations, not estimates.

Nursing care home Costs UK 2026

Care home with on-site qualified nurses for residents with complex medical needs — typically 25–40% more expensive than residential care without nursing. The national median is £1,227 per week, ranging from £114 to £6,973 across English local authorities.

National median

£1,227

per week

Lower-cost LA

£620

Redcar and Cleveland

Self-funder guide

£1,472-£1,718

Estimated weekly range

What families may actually pay

Council baseline

£1,227

per week from ASC-FR returns

Annual equivalent: £63,804.

Self-funder guide

£1,472-£1,718

per week, using a 20-40% uplift

Mid estimate: £1,595 per week.

2.5-year exposure

£207,363

mid self-funder estimate

Council-rate equivalent: £159,510.

Self-funders should also check whether NHS-funded nursing care is deducted from the quote or already reflected in the stated nursing fee. The standard England FNC rate is £268 per week from 1 April 2026.

What to check in a care home fee quote

Lower-cost local authorities

Local Authority	Unit cost	Compare locally
Redcar and Cleveland	£620 per week	See Redcar and Cleveland →
North East Lincolnshire	£662 per week	See North East Lincolnshire →
Darlington	£782 per week	See Darlington →
Durham	£783 per week	See Durham →
Wirral	£857 per week	See Wirral →
North Lincolnshire	£912 per week	See North Lincolnshire →
Halton	£928 per week	See Halton →
Thurrock	£943 per week	See Thurrock →
Cumberland	£988 per week	See Cumberland →
Bexley	£994 per week	See Bexley →
Lincolnshire	£998 per week	See Lincolnshire →
Newcastle upon Tyne	£1,007 per week	See Newcastle upon Tyne →
Hartlepool	£1,009 per week	See Hartlepool →
Wolverhampton	£1,015 per week	See Wolverhampton →
Westmorland and Furness	£1,018 per week	See Westmorland and Furness →

All local authorities

Other care services

Residential care home Residential and nursing care Short-term care

Care home data & tools

Care Costs Hub Cost Calculator Self-Funding Guide Find a Care Home Care Deserts Costs by Region Cost Guide Who Pays?