Cost of a care home vs live-in care: the surprising truth

When families start thinking about care, there's an assumption almost everyone arrives with: that a care home must be the cheaper option, and that one-to-one care at home is a luxury reserved for the few. It's one of the most common beliefs we come across, and one of the most mistaken.

The reality, once you look at the actual figures, is genuinely surprising: live-in care is very often comparable in cost to a care home, and frequently cheaper, especially for couples and for those with higher care needs. Let's look at the numbers honestly, so you can see for yourself.

What does a care home cost in 2026?

Care home fees vary by region and by the level of care needed, but for someone funding their own care, the UK averages in 2026 look roughly like this:

• Residential care: around £1,300 per week: that's about £67,000 a year.
• Nursing care: around £1,500 per week: roughly £78,000 a year.
• Dementia care: higher still, typically £1,375–£1,585 per week depending on whether nursing is involved.

And those are averages. In London and the South East, fees are considerably higher: self-funded residential care in London averages around £1,548 a week, and nursing care closer to £1,760.

It's also worth knowing what isn't always included. Many care homes charge extra for things like hairdressing, chiropody and certain activities. And if you choose a home that costs more than your local council is willing to pay, a family member is often asked to pay a "top-up" fee, commonly anywhere from £100 to £500 a week. These can add up quietly.

What does live-in care cost in 2026?

Live-in care: a dedicated, professional carer living in the home and providing round-the-clock, one-to-one support, typically costs in the region of £1,200 to £1,600 per week across the UK.

At Edyn, our live-in care starts from £1,245 per week for one person, depending on the level of support needed. That fee covers the care itself, in full, with no top-ups and no surprise extras.

In the interest of a fair comparison: a live-in care fee doesn't include your loved one's ordinary household running costs, things like food, utilities and any rent or mortgage, because they're staying in their own home and keeping those as normal. For most people, especially homeowners, those are costs they're comfortably managing already.

Head to head: for one person

Put side by side, the picture for a single person is clear: live-in care, at around £1,200–£1,600 a week, sits right alongside the average residential care home, and comes in below the cost of a nursing home or dementia care home. So the moment someone's needs rise to the level where a care home would put them in nursing or specialist dementia care, live-in care often becomes the more economical choice, while also offering one-to-one attention that a care home, with its shared staff, simply can't match.

And in higher-cost areas like London and the South East, where care home fees climb steeply, live-in care can look better value still.

Where live-in care really wins: couples

Here's the comparison that surprises families most of all.

In a care home, a couple generally needs two places, and pays close to two full fees. At average rates, that's roughly £2,600 a week or more for residential care, and considerably more for nursing or dementia care, or in pricier regions.

With live-in care, a single carer can often support both partners for one fee. At Edyn, live-in care for a couple starts from £1,800 per week, a long way below the cost of two separate care home rooms. So not only does live-in care keep a couple together, in their own home, after perhaps a lifetime of marriage, it can do so for substantially less money. It's hard to think of a clearer win.

The hidden financial advantages of staying at home

Beyond the headline weekly fee, choosing care at home brings some significant financial benefits that are easy to miss:

• Your home is protected. When you receive care in your own home, the value of your property is not counted in the local authority means test. If you move permanently into a care home, by contrast, your home's value can be included — which for many families means selling the house to pay the fees. Staying at home keeps that asset in the family.
• Your fee goes entirely to your care, not towards a share of a building, communal overheads, or optional extras.
• No top-up fees to worry about.

Taken together, these can shift the long-term financial picture meaningfully in favour of staying home.

It was never only about the money

Of course, the cost comparison is only part of the story, and for most families, not even the most important part. Live-in care also means keeping your own home, your own routines and your own bed; one-to-one attention from a carer who knows you; the freedom to keep your pets, your garden and your community; and, for couples, never having to be parted. Those things are hard to put a price on, but it's lovely to discover they often come at a lower one than expected.

You can read more in our guide to the cost of live-in care, and explore how people pay for it in our funding options guide.

Let's compare your options properly

Every family's situation is different, and the best way to see how the costs stack up for you is a quick, no-obligation chat. We'll happily talk through the figures for your circumstances so you can make the right decision with confidence.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900. You may be pleasantly surprised by what's possible.