Skilled Nursing Facility Costs by State in 2026
Skilled nursing facilities — nursing homes — deliver the most intensive level of long-term residential care: 24-hour licensed nursing, on-site rehab, medication management, and help with all activities of daily living. They're also the most expensive tier of senior care and the one most likely to be partly or fully covered by public programs.
State-by-state monthly cost ranges
Figures show the semi-private (lower) and private (upper) monthly median. Sort or search to compare states.
National median (low end)
$9,300/mo
Most affordable state
Missouri
from $6,300/mo
Most expensive state
Connecticut
up to $17,100/mo
51 states
| Annual range | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7,200 | $8,100 | $86,400 – $97,200 |
| Alaska | $14,400 | $16,800 | $172,800 – $201,600 |
| Arizona | $8,100 | $9,900 | $97,200 – $118,800 |
| Arkansas | $6,600 | $7,500 | $79,200 – $90,000 |
| California | $11,700 | $14,400 | $140,400 – $172,800 |
| Colorado | $9,900 | $11,700 | $118,800 – $140,400 |
| Connecticut | $15,300 | $17,100 | $183,600 – $205,200 |
| Delaware | $11,700 | $13,500 | $140,400 – $162,000 |
| District of Columbia | $13,500 | $15,300 | $162,000 – $183,600 |
| Florida | $9,900 | $11,100 | $118,800 – $133,200 |
| Georgia | $7,500 | $8,700 | $90,000 – $104,400 |
| Hawaii | $14,400 | $16,200 | $172,800 – $194,400 |
| Idaho | $8,700 | $10,200 | $104,400 – $122,400 |
| Illinois | $8,100 | $9,900 | $97,200 – $118,800 |
| Indiana | $7,800 | $9,000 | $93,600 – $108,000 |
| Iowa | $7,200 | $8,400 | $86,400 – $100,800 |
| Kansas | $7,200 | $8,100 | $86,400 – $97,200 |
| Kentucky | $7,800 | $9,000 | $93,600 – $108,000 |
| Louisiana | $6,600 | $7,800 | $79,200 – $93,600 |
| Maine | $11,100 | $12,900 | $133,200 – $154,800 |
| Maryland | $11,100 | $12,600 | $133,200 – $151,200 |
| Massachusetts | $13,500 | $15,600 | $162,000 – $187,200 |
| Michigan | $9,300 | $10,500 | $111,600 – $126,000 |
| Minnesota | $10,200 | $12,000 | $122,400 – $144,000 |
| Mississippi | $6,900 | $7,800 | $82,800 – $93,600 |
| Missouri | $6,300 | $7,200 | $75,600 – $86,400 |
| Montana | $9,000 | $10,500 | $108,000 – $126,000 |
| Nebraska | $8,400 | $9,600 | $100,800 – $115,200 |
| Nevada | $9,300 | $10,800 | $111,600 – $129,600 |
| New Hampshire | $12,600 | $14,400 | $151,200 – $172,800 |
| New Jersey | $12,600 | $14,100 | $151,200 – $169,200 |
| New Mexico | $8,400 | $9,600 | $100,800 – $115,200 |
| New York | $13,200 | $15,000 | $158,400 – $180,000 |
| North Carolina | $8,100 | $9,300 | $97,200 – $111,600 |
| North Dakota | $10,200 | $11,700 | $122,400 – $140,400 |
| Ohio | $8,400 | $9,600 | $100,800 – $115,200 |
| Oklahoma | $6,300 | $7,200 | $75,600 – $86,400 |
| Oregon | $10,800 | $12,600 | $129,600 – $151,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $10,500 | $12,300 | $126,000 – $147,600 |
| Rhode Island | $11,700 | $13,200 | $140,400 – $158,400 |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | $8,700 | $90,000 – $104,400 |
| South Dakota | $8,400 | $9,600 | $100,800 – $115,200 |
| Tennessee | $7,500 | $8,400 | $90,000 – $100,800 |
| Texas | $6,900 | $8,700 | $82,800 – $104,400 |
| Utah | $8,100 | $9,600 | $97,200 – $115,200 |
| Vermont | $11,700 | $13,500 | $140,400 – $162,000 |
| Virginia | $9,000 | $10,500 | $108,000 – $126,000 |
| Washington | $11,100 | $13,200 | $133,200 – $158,400 |
| West Virginia | $10,200 | $11,700 | $122,400 – $140,400 |
| Wisconsin | $9,300 | $10,800 | $111,600 – $129,600 |
| Wyoming | $9,600 | $11,100 | $115,200 – $133,200 |
Who pays — Medicare, Medicaid, or you
- Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay. Days 1–20 are fully covered; days 21–100 carry a daily coinsurance. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care.
- Medicaid is the largest payer of long-term nursing home care in the US. Eligibility requires income and assets below state-specific thresholds. See our Medicaid guide for the detail.
- Private pay bridges the gap. Most residents start as private pay (often from retirement income + home equity) and transition to Medicaid once assets are spent down.
- LTC insurance, VA Aid & Attendance and other sources cover portions for those who qualify.
Semi-private vs. private rooms
The headline cost difference. A semi-private room (two residents sharing) often costs 15–25% less than a private room at the same facility. Medicaid typically pays only for semi-private unless a medical necessity requires private.
Quality signals beyond price
Cost is a weak predictor of quality in skilled nursing. The strongest signals are:
- CMS five-star overall rating (and the three sub-ratings: health inspection, staffing, quality measures).
- Registered-nurse hours per resident day.
- Recent health-inspection deficiency history.
- Hospital readmission rates within 30 days.
- Staff turnover — a surprisingly load-bearing indicator of care quality.