Monterey County, situated on the coast in central California, is a popular destination for seniors looking to retire in a peaceful area with year-round warm weather and gorgeous beaches within close range. Seniors can visit the marine life at...
There are approximately 21 assisted living facilities within Salinas, the seat of Monterey County, with an estimated cost of $7,100 per month, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2020. Although this is $2,100 higher than the statewide average of $5,000, seniors are still drawn to the area because of its world-class health care centers and high quality of life.
200 Glenwood Circle, Monterey, CA, 93940
4.7
(54 reviews)
"I went to look at The Park Lane. I like the vibe, feeling of the people, and food. The staff was very good. They had a lot of choices for food, and it tasted good. They have a refrigerator and a microwave. It varies from apartment to apartment. Th..."
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290 Regency Circle, Salinas, CA, 93906
4.5
(22 reviews)
"My mom is now at Vista Harden Ranch. Our overall experience is very good. Her assisted living unit is very nice. She has a full kitchen without a stove. She loves the food there. It's very good. It's a very nice community. They take very good care..."
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1320 Padre Drive, Salinas, CA, 93901
4.6
(18 reviews)
"We loved Ivy Park at Salinas. It was very well run and maintained, but I think the size of it would make it easy for some people to kind of get lost in the big crowd. It was nice for a retirement community, but it was too big for what we wanted. T..."
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1110 Cass St., Monterey, CA, 93940
4.9
(8 reviews)
"We toured Ivy Park at Monterey. It was very good and very pleasant. I talked to a few of the residents, and they liked it there. The staff who toured us around was very informative. The apartments were small. I saw their dining commons, the televi..."
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1335 Byron Dr, Salinas, CA, 93901
4.4
(10 reviews)
"My dad moved into Madonna Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care. It's a small facility, but it is very nice. The people are very caring and attentive. It just got renovated, so it looks like a boutique hotel. I'm really very, very pleased with..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
8545 CARMEL VALLEY ROAD, Carmel, CA, 93923
5.0
(6 reviews)
"My parents decided to sell their home and move to the Manor in 1998. It was one of the best decisions they ever made. The quality of everything in this facility is top notch and when my father came down with Alzheimer's the nursing staff were incredi"
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26245 Carmel Rancho Boulevard, Carmel, CA, 93923
4.8
(5 reviews)
"Cottages of Carmel was a wonderful place for my mother to spend her final 3 years. The care and compassion starts at the top with Julie and Gina, and filter all the way down to the med techs, the dining personnel and even the cleaning staff. My ..."
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200 Iris Canyon Road, Monterey, CA, 93940
4.4
(7 reviews)
"We chose Merrill Gardens at Monterey because they gave us a really good rate on the care. My grandfather is in the assisted living and my grandmother is in the memory care, and so far it's fantastic. Everybody's very polite, and very professional...."
READ MORE3121 Messinger Drive, Marina, CA, 93933
4.7
(3 reviews)
"My mother is currently in hospice care at Coastal Care Home. Rose, the owner, is very sweet and caring. She considers all of her patients as family and it comes through loud and clear in the care she provides. All of her employees are gracious and..."
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966 Carmelo Street, Monterey, CA, 93940
4.1
(8 reviews)
"Carmelo Park is pretty large, and they have a lot of clients. It seemed nice, and they gave me an excellent tour. The person there was very accommodating and gave me a very good tour. It's a good location and inside was very good, and they have a ..."
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551 Gibson Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950
4.3
(4 reviews)
"We visited here, and Mom will be moving in. We chose it for her because it has assisted living as well as the professional skill nursing function. The place has a very nice warm feeling to it and there is plenty of room. I talked to a resident who..."
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651 Sinex Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950
3.9
(7 reviews)
"My dad moved into assisted living at Canterbury Woods - Pacific Grove. It looks very nice. He knows several people who currently live there and he's able to work out a deal where his current home health aide can continue to be his aide there. The ..."
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25661 Morse Drive, Carmel, CA, 93923
4.0
(3 reviews)
" The physical set-up of Flanders Court is simultaneously gracious, secure, and homey. The handsome garden and patio are integrated into the living area. Internally, residents have access to abundant natural light, eclectic tasteful furnishing..."
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1249 Josselyn Canyon Road, Monterey, CA, 93940
4.0
(3 reviews)
"Ave Maria was recommended to us, so we chose this facility. The staff were good. The rooms were modern and very clean. It's really very nice. The food seems to be very good. Their dining room looked modern and clean too. They have an activity dire..."
READ MORE745 Carmelita Drive, Salinas, CA, 93901
3.5
(2 reviews)
"My friend is at Queen of Angels II RCFE. There are five residents currently, but the maximum number of residents is six. Three ladies live in the home, so there are at least two caregivers around the clock. The owner comes in every other day and c..."
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15961 toro hills ave, Salinas, CA, 93908
"Songbird Care Homes is a California State-licensed* Board & Care Facility for ages 65+. We have two homes located in Salinas, CA and North Monterey County, offering personalized care in comfortable surroundings. Our Care Team combines over 40 years o..."
READ MOREThe average cost of assisted living in Salinas is $7,100 per month, and seniors in other areas of Monterey County can expect to pay comparable rates. In comparison to the United States as a whole, the area is about $2,800 more expensive. Costs are also $2,100 higher than the California average of $5,000 per month.
Average assisted living costs in Monterey County are the highest in California. The cost in Los Angeles, in the southern part of the state, is identical to the statewide average, which is $2,100 less than in Monterey County. Further north, seniors living in Oxnard pay $5,845, or $1,255 below the average in Monterey County. Costs drop even further outside of the expensive Bay Area; in Sacramento, for example, residents pay $5,395, which is $1,705 more affordable. In San Francisco and San Jose, both of which are among the state’s most expensive cities for assisted living, costs are $6,100 and $5,875 per month, or $1,000 and $1,225 less than in Monterey County. To the north, seniors in Napa can expect to pay $6,250 per month, which is $850 lower. In Santa Cruz, the seat of neighboring Santa Cruz County, the average cost is just $300 less at $6,800 per month.
Monterey County/Salinas
$7,100
California
$5,000
The United States
$4,300
Los Angeles
$5,000
Sacramento
$5,395
Oxnard
$5,845
San Jose
$5,875
San Francisco
$6,100
Napa
$6,250
Santa Cruz
$6,800
Eligible seniors can find financial assistance services in Monterey County through both the Medicaid 1915(c) Assisted Living Waiver Program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the optional state supplement (OSS).
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Monterey County | (800) 510-2020 | The local Aging and Disability Resource Connection works alongside Monterey County’s Area Agency on Aging to improve the lives of older adults within the county limits. The agency’s “No Wrong Door” approach incorporates all the services seniors might need in one place. Services include referrals to community-based supportive resources and assistance in the creation of a personalized care plan. |
| Monterey County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program | (831) 758-4011 | The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program works to protect the rights of those who live in assisted living and other residential care facilities throughout Monterey County. The program’s volunteers advocate for the well-being of older adults who are victims of neglect and abuse. The ombudsman can also help guide seniors and their families through the process of choosing a long-term care community that meets their particular requirements. |
| Monterey County Military and Veterans Affairs Office | (831) 647-7613 | Monterey County’s Military and Veterans Affairs Office provides a variety of free services to those who served in the military. Veterans receive unbiased information about the benefits they earned, and volunteers offer one-on-one help with their applications. Those with a service-connected disability may be eligible for a monthly financial compensation, and seniors and their dependents may qualify for a VA pension or Aid and Attendance benefits. |
| ITN Monterey County | (831) 233-3447 | ITN Monterey County, a not-for-profit organization, offers low-cost alternatives to older adults who can’t use standard public transportation. Seniors can use this service for medical appointments, grocery shopping and recreational meetings. Rides must be scheduled in advance to avoid additional fees, and the program is available to seniors aged 60 and over. Although a small fee is required for each trip, those with low incomes may be eligible for the Road Scholarship funding program. |
| Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program | (800) 434-0222 | The Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program provides personalized advice on Medicare and health insurance coverage at no cost to seniors. Volunteers offer unbiased information and help older adults select a care plan that meets their budget and medical needs. Seniors can receive assistance with submitting claims and avoiding Medicare fraud, abuse and errors. Assistance is also available in Spanish. |
| Scholze Park Center | (831) 646-3878 | The Scholze Park Center offers a range of recreational activities and services to help Monterey County seniors maintain an active lifestyle and improve their well-being. Programs include dance, fitness and sewing classes, and art workshops. The center also organizes group trips to local attractions, as well as parties and holiday celebrations. Technology coaching is available for adults who want to enhance their computer skills, and some classes may be offered online. |
Monterey County-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
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