How much does residential and nursing care cost in the UK?

The national median residential and nursing care cost in England is £1,227 per week, ranging from £7 to £16,049 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 residential and nursing care cost?

Combined residential and nursing care category from NHS England ASC-FR — covers care home placements where the local authority records the cost as a combined rate rather than splitting residential vs 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 residential and nursing care?

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 residential and nursing care lower-cost in the UK?

Based on the latest NHS England ASC-FR data, the lower-cost English local authorities for residential and nursing care include North Lincolnshire (£885/week), Wirral (£900/week), Darlington (£912/week), Redcar and Cleveland (£946/week), Halton (£948/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.

Residential and nursing care Costs UK 2026

Combined residential and nursing care category from NHS England ASC-FR — covers care home placements where the local authority records the cost as a combined rate rather than splitting residential vs nursing. The national median is £1,227 per week, ranging from £7 to £16,049 across English local authorities.

National median

£1,227

per week

Lower-cost LA

£885

North Lincolnshire

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.

Use the council rate as the floor, then ask providers for the self-funder fee, inclusions and annual uplift policy. For nursing placements, the current England standard NHS-funded nursing care rate is £268 per week.

What to check in a care home fee quote

Lower-cost local authorities

Local Authority	Unit cost	Compare locally
North Lincolnshire	£885 per week	See North Lincolnshire →
Wirral	£900 per week	See Wirral →
Darlington	£912 per week	See Darlington →
Redcar and Cleveland	£946 per week	See Redcar and Cleveland →
Halton	£948 per week	See Halton →
Blackpool	£1,033 per week	See Blackpool →
Wolverhampton	£1,036 per week	See Wolverhampton →
Nottingham	£1,058 per week	See Nottingham →
Lincolnshire	£1,075 per week	See Lincolnshire →
North East Lincolnshire	£1,081 per week	See North East Lincolnshire →
South Tyneside	£1,082 per week	See South Tyneside →
Durham	£1,089 per week	See Durham →
Doncaster	£1,092 per week	See Doncaster →
Stockton-on-Tees	£1,095 per week	See Stockton-on-Tees →
Sefton	£1,106 per week	See Sefton →

All local authorities

Other care services

Residential care home Nursing care home 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?