.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
What State Has The Cheapest Senior Living?
Date Updated: June 11, 2025
Written by:
Pilar Martland double-majored as an undergraduate at UC Davis and earned bachelor’s degrees in English and science. Following graduation, she spent two years as an AmeriCorps member working in the public school systems of California and Washington. She then completed a master's degree in education and became the author of multiple children's books.
Pilar has spent the past several years focusing on raising her family while continuing to pursue work on a freelance basis as a writer, editor, researcher, and fact-checker. She strives to make a positive difference by spreading awareness and empowering others through research-backed, educational, and informative content.
Edited by:
Matt Whittle is a freelance writer and editor who has worked with higher education, health, and lifestyle content for eight years. His work has been featured in Forbes, Sleep.org, and Psychology.org. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Penn State University.
Matt brings experience taking complicated topics and simplifying them for readers of all ages. With Caring, he hopes to assist seniors in navigating the systems in place to receive the care they need and deserve. Matt is also a freelance composer — you may have heard his work in global online ad campaigns for various products.
As seniors age, they may need daily assistance and consider in-home care or residential living. In general, increasing care needs are associated with higher costs. Therefore, assisted living, which involves mostly nonmedical help, would typically be less expensive than nursing home care, which includes specialized medical services.
When anticipating potential costs of care, it is particularly useful to look at state-specific figures. Care costs vary greatly by type and location. For this reason, CareScout's Cost of Care Survey offers valuable insights.
This survey gives state-by-state monthly median costs for different types of senior care. This data can help you or a loved one anticipate costs associated with the type of care needed, based on your current or future location. Explore the cheapest state for senior living by care type in this helpful guide.
Key Takeaways
|
The Cost of Care At Home
If you or your loved one can still live fairly independently and merely seek the best states for senior solo living, this is not the page for you. This is a roundup of cheapest states in which you or your loved one can get senior care at home.
Seniors living at home commonly use in-home care or home health care to continue to live independently. In-home care provides personal care services, such as assistance with activities of daily living. Home health care provides medical assistance in the home in addition to daily living assistance.
The most affordable states for care at home
The most affordable state for in-home care and home health care is Louisiana, with median monthly costs of $3,813 and $4,195, respectively. Mississippi comes in a close second, with a monthly median cost of $4,290 for in-home care and $4,767 for home health care.
Adult day care is an option for seniors who require care only during daytime hours. If their caregiver works during the day, adult day care can provide companionship and supervision. The median cost in Delaware is $758/month, while seniors in South Carolina pay a median cost of $1,560/month.
The Cost of Residential Care
Independent living is less expensive than other senior community living options and averages $3,000-$4,000/month. Residents are generally still active and in relatively good health and do not require daily assistance or have substantial medical needs, lowering costs.
Assisted living offers an ideal residential care choice for those who need some help with activities of daily living. The most affordable state for assisted living is South Dakota, at a median cost of just $4,350/month. Mississippi follows closely with a monthly median cost of $4,445.
Nursing home care is generally more expensive than independent or assisted living, though there are more affordable states. Texas has the cheapest nursing home care at a monthly median cost of $5,475. Missouri's nursing homes are also affordable, at $6,357/month.
Memory care is typically more expensive than assisted living and may even exceed the costs of nursing home care due to residents' specialized needs. Approximate average costs for seniors receiving memory care services range from about $4,000-$10,000/month. The national average for memory care is $7,899 monthly.
Along with the cost of care, living expenses, taxes, and government assistance can all affect retirement budgets.
Some states with low average care costs may receive less Medicaid assistance. Low state income tax on Social Security and other retirement funds can help keep more money available for senior care. Seniors who wish to remain living at home should also consider the property tax burden before deciding on their retirement location. It is advisable to consult an elder law attorney for expert advice with property taxes and estate planning.
Bottom Line
The cheapest state for senior living varies based on several factors, including location. Care at home is most affordable in Louisiana and Mississippi. The cheapest state for senior living in a facility depends on whether they need help with daily tasks in an assisted living facility or a higher level of care provided in a nursing home. Other factors to consider beyond care type and location are costs of living and funding available for statewide assistance programs.