How much does care cost in the UK? We’ve pulled together the latest figures for home care, live-in care and care homes, with a full regional breakdown, so you can plan with realistic numbers. Updated for 2026.
Home care (visiting care)
Home care is charged by the hour. Age UK quotes a typical rate of around £25 an hour, while the Homecare Association’s recommended minimum price for 2025/26 is £32.14 an hour in England (£32.88 Scotland, £33.90 Wales). Short visits often cost more per hour, and London/South East rates run higher.
| Support level | Rough weekly cost |
|---|---|
| One 1-hour visit a day | £175–£225 |
| Two visits a day | £350–£450 |
| Four visits a day | £800–£1,200+ |
Sources: Age UK (paying for care); Homecare Association Minimum Price for Homecare 2025/26.
Live-in care
There’s no official national average, but live-in care agencies typically quote £1,200–£1,600 a week for one person, rising with complexity. For a couple, one carer can often support both for only a few hundred pounds more, frequently cheaper than two care-home places.
Care homes, by region
The UK average self-funder fee is about £1,298 a week for residential care (≈£67,500 a year) and £1,535 for nursing care (≈£79,800 a year). Costs are highest in London and lowest in the North East.
| Region | Residential / wk | Nursing / wk |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,548 | £1,759 |
| South East | £1,446 | £1,706 |
| Scotland | £1,539 | £1,646 |
| East of England | £1,359 | £1,606 |
| South West | £1,339 | £1,595 |
| West Midlands | £1,202 | £1,426 |
| East Midlands | £1,197 | £1,380 |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | £1,170 | £1,422 |
| Wales | £1,156 | £1,394 |
| North West | £1,143 | £1,422 |
| North East | £1,112 | £1,264 |
Source: carehome.co.uk self-funder fee data, 2025. Figures are averages, individual homes vary.
Dementia care
Specialist dementia care costs a little more: about £1,343 a week residential (≈£69,800/yr) and £1,564 a week nursing (≈£81,300/yr).
Yearly cost at a glance
| Care type | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Home care (1 visit/day) | £200 | £10,400 |
| Live-in care | £1,200–£1,600 | £62,000–£83,000 |
| Residential care home | £1,298 | £67,496 |
| Nursing home | £1,535 | £79,820 |
What affects the cost?
- Location, London and the South East are the most expensive.
- Level of need, nursing and dementia care cost more than residential.
- Funding status, self-funders typically pay more than council-funded residents in the same home.
- Room and facilities, en-suite and newer homes command higher fees.
Figures are the latest available averages and indicative ranges (2025–2026) and will change over time; individual quotes vary. General information, not financial advice. Last updated June 2026.
Work out your own care costs
Estimate what care would cost in your own situation, using typical 2026 UK rates.
Estimate the cost of care in your area. Pick the type of care, your region and (for home care) how many hours you need, we’ll show a rough weekly, monthly and yearly figure based on the latest UK averages.
Estimates use 2025–2026 UK averages (care homes: carehome.co.uk self-funder data; home care: £28/hour baseline adjusted by region; live-in: £1,150–£1,650/week). Real quotes vary by provider and individual needs. General information, not financial advice. Last updated June 2026.