What You Can Expect to Pay
If you’re starting to look into care for a parent or loved one, cost is probably the first thing on your mind. And the numbers can be daunting, so let’s break them down clearly.
In 2026, the average cost of a care home in the UK is roughly:
- Residential care: around £1,300 per week (approximately £67,600 per year)
- Nursing care: around £1,500 per week (approximately £78,000 per year)
- Dementia care: often £1,400 to £1,800 per week, depending on the level of support needed
These are national averages. What you’ll actually pay depends heavily on where in the country you’re looking, the type of care needed, and the individual care home.
Why Costs Vary So Much
Care home fees aren’t standardised. A home in central London might charge £1,800 or more per week, while a similar home in the North East could be closer to £900. Several factors drive this:
- Location: London and the South East are significantly more expensive than the North or Wales
- Type of care: Nursing care costs more because registered nurses are on-site 24/7
- Room type: En-suite rooms, larger rooms, or rooms with garden views typically cost more
- CQC rating: Homes rated Outstanding or Good may charge a premium
- Extras: Hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers, and outings are often charged separately
What’s Included in the Weekly Fee
Most care home fees cover the basics: accommodation, meals, personal care (washing, dressing, toileting), laundry, heating, and activities. However, always ask what’s not included. Common extras that catch families out:
- Hairdressing and beauty treatments
- Chiropody and podiatry
- Newspapers and magazines
- Specialist toiletries or continence products beyond what’s provided
- Escorted trips and outings
- Private physiotherapy or complementary therapies
Ask for a full fee schedule before committing. A good care home will be completely transparent about costs.
Regional Cost Breakdown
To give you a rough idea of how costs vary across the UK:
- London: £1,500 to £2,000+ per week
- South East England: £1,200 to £1,600 per week
- South West England: £1,100 to £1,500 per week
- Midlands: £1,000 to £1,400 per week
- North of England: £900 to £1,300 per week
- Scotland: £900 to £1,300 per week (with free personal care for over-65s)
- Wales: £900 to £1,200 per week
- Northern Ireland: £800 to £1,200 per week
Scotland is worth noting specifically because personal care is free for everyone over 65, which can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Who Pays for Care?
This is where it gets complicated, but here’s the short version:
If your parent has savings and assets above £23,250, they’ll be expected to fund their own care (self-funding). This includes the value of their property, unless a spouse, partner, or dependent relative still lives there.
If they have between £14,250 and £23,250, the local council will contribute, but your parent will also pay a means-tested amount.
If they have below £14,250, the council will fund their care, though they may still need to contribute from their income (such as pension).
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is fully funded by the NHS and is free regardless of savings. It’s for people with a “primary health need” — meaning their care needs are mainly health-related rather than social. It’s worth applying for, but be aware that eligibility criteria are strict.
Ways to Manage the Cost
- Attendance Allowance: If your parent is self-funding, they may be eligible for up to £110.40 per week (2026 rate) tax-free. This doesn’t affect other income.
- Deferred Payment Agreements: Your parent can delay selling their home by entering a DPA with the council, which puts a legal charge on the property instead.
- NHS-funded Nursing Care: Even if your parent doesn’t qualify for full CHC, they may get a flat-rate NHS contribution towards nursing costs (currently around £220 per week).
- 12-week property disregard: For the first 12 weeks after moving into a care home, the value of your parent’s property is ignored in the financial assessment.
How to Compare Costs
When comparing care homes, don’t just look at the headline weekly fee. Ask about:
- Annual fee increases (some homes increase by 5-10% per year)
- What happens if your parent’s needs increase — will fees go up?
- Notice periods and what happens if you need to move
- Whether the home accepts council-funded residents (some don’t, or charge top-up fees)
Use CareFinder to compare care homes in your area and request fee information directly from homes that match your needs.