Nursing Home Cost Calculator
Calculate the cost of skilled nursing facility care based on room type, duration, and geographic location.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24-hour medical care and supervision. They are the most expensive form of long-term care, with costs varying significantly by region and room type.
The Formula
Monthly Cost = Daily Rate × 30.44
Total = Σ (Annual × (1 + Inflation)^year) for full years + remaining months
Total = Σ (Annual × (1 + Inflation)^year) for full years + remaining months
Variables
- Daily — Daily rate for the facility
- 30.44 — Average days per month
- 365 — Days per year for annual calculation
Example
A semi-private room at $260/day = $7,914/month = $94,900/year. For a 14-month stay with 4% inflation: ~$113,000 total. Medicare covers the first 20 days ($5,200), leaving ~$108,000 out-of-pocket.
Tips
- Medicare covers skilled nursing for up to 100 days after a qualifying hospital stay (first 20 days fully, days 21-100 with copay).
- The average nursing home stay is about 14 months, but varies greatly.
- Medicaid is the largest payer of nursing home care — apply when assets are nearly depleted.
- Long-term care insurance can cover a significant portion if purchased before needing care.
- Ask about the facility's star rating on Medicare.gov for quality comparisons.