The national median cost of assisted living in 2026 is $5,419 per month, based on tens of thousands of actual family move-ins tracked industry-wide. But that single number hides a lot — actual costs range from roughly $2,450/month in the least expensive states to more than $9,000/month in the most expensive.
What's typically included
- A private or shared room, plus meals
- Help with daily activities — bathing, dressing, medication management
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Social activities and some level of on-site staff availability
What often costs extra
- A community entrance or move-in fee, separate from monthly rent
- Higher levels of personal care, priced in tiers as needs increase
- Medication management beyond a basic level
- Incontinence care, if needed
Why the range is so wide
Assisted living costs have been rising roughly 5% per year, and location matters enormously — a community in a major metro area or a state with a high cost of living can run two to three times what the same level of care costs in a lower-cost state or a rural area.
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