Care Home Costs 2026: Average Weekly Fees by Region in England
Weekly care home fees vary from £1,095 in the North East to £1,456 in London for residential care. Select your region below, then calculate exactly how long your savings will cover the cost.
Residential care
£1,250/wk
≈ £5,417/month
avg across 9 English regions
Nursing care
£1,465/wk
≈ £6,348/month
incl. 24-hr registered nursing
Dementia care
£1,299/wk
≈ £5,629/month
specialist dementia support
Need dementia-specific data? See dementia care costs by region →
Need nursing home data? See nursing home costs & FNC 2026 →
See your area
Average care home fees in your region
Select your region and care type to see the typical weekly cost, then calculate your savings runway.
Average residential care in London
£1,456/wk
≈ £6,309/month
Care home costs by region in England 2025–26
Average weekly self-funder fees across all 9 English regions. Sorted highest to lowest by residential rate.
| Region | Residential | Nursing | Dementia |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,456/wk | £1,680/wk | £1,500/wk |
| South East | £1,450/wk | £1,695/wk | £1,500/wk |
| East of England | £1,350/wk | £1,530/wk | £1,400/wk |
| South West | £1,349/wk | £1,546/wk | £1,450/wk |
| West Midlands | £1,206/wk | £1,400/wk | £1,250/wk |
| East Midlands | £1,125/wk | £1,370/wk | £1,150/wk |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,115/wk | £1,400/wk | £1,154/wk |
| North West | £1,100/wk | £1,400/wk | £1,150/wk |
| North East | £1,095/wk | £1,160/wk | £1,133/wk |
Self-funder market rates · Fees at individual homes vary · Not financial advice
What affects care home costs?
Four factors explain most of the variation between homes and regions.
Type of care
Residential care is the least expensive. Nursing care adds 15–20% for on-site registered nurses. Specialist dementia care is similarly priced to nursing. Choosing the right care type — not a higher level than needed — is the single biggest cost lever.
Location
London and the South East command a £350+/week premium over the North East. This reflects staffing costs, property values, and local market demand. Using your council's actual rate — not a national average — can shift a projected savings runway by years.
Room and facilities
En-suite rooms typically cost £50–£150/week more than standard rooms. Purpose-built modern homes charge a premium over converted properties. Extras like a garden view, wet room, or specialist equipment add further cost.
Additional services
Hairdressing, physiotherapy, chiropody, and social outings are usually charged on top of the weekly fee. Always request a full schedule of extras before signing. These can add £30–£100/week to the total.
What happens after savings run out?
Care costs don't stop when savings fall — but who pays changes.
Self-funding (until savings fall below £23,250)
You pay the full care home fee from savings, investments, or property. The means test threshold for 2025–26 is £23,250 — above this, no council contribution applies.
Council funding — with a top-up gap
Below £23,250, the local authority contributes at its own benchmark rate. Council rates average £956/week nationally — significantly below the £1,250/week market average. The gap (£294/week nationally) is the family top-up: ongoing cost even after council support begins.
NHS Continuing Healthcare — fees paid in full
If the primary need is a health need (not social care), the NHS can pay care home fees in full with no means test. Worth up to £80,000/year. Around 1 in 10 care home residents may qualify — most families never request the first screening step.
How long will savings cover care home fees?
Select your region above — the table updates automatically to show how long savings last at your area’s rate versus the national average. Based on the council means test threshold of £23,250.
| Savings | Nat. avg£1,250/wk | London£1,456/wk |
|---|---|---|
| £50,000 | ~5 months | ~4 months |
| £100,000 | ~14 months | ~12 months |
| £150,000 | ~23 months | ~20 months |
| £250,000 | ~3y 6m | ~3 years |
| £500,000 | ~7y 4m | ~6y 4m |
Illustrative only — does not account for pension income, fee increases, or property. Use the calculator for a personalised timeline →
What could change your picture
These figures assume you pay every penny yourself
NHS Continuing Healthcare can pay care home fees in full — no means test, no top-up. The council means test may also kick in sooner than the national average suggests. The Funding Guide calculates both for your postcode and savings amount.
- NHS CHC eligibility — your council area, your circumstances
- Council means test — your savings, property, and pension income
- Deferred Payment: whether your home can fund care costs
- Weekly top-up gap once council support begins
Care home cost FAQs 2026
How much does a care home cost per week in England in 2026?
Average weekly care home fees in England for 2026 range from around £1,095/week in the North East to £1,456/week in London for residential care. The national average is approximately £1,250/week for residential care, £1,465/week for nursing care, and £1,299/week for dementia care.
Which region has the highest care home costs in 2026?
London and the South East have the highest care home costs, averaging £1,456/week and £1,450/week respectively for residential care. The most affordable regions are the North East (£1,095/week) and North West (£1,100/week). The annual difference between the most and least expensive region exceeds £18,700.
What is included in a care home weekly fee?
A weekly fee typically covers accommodation, all meals, personal care (washing, dressing, medication), and 24-hour staffing. It does not usually include hairdressing, chiropody, physiotherapy, or private outings. Always ask for a written list of inclusions and exclusions before signing a contract.
How much have care home costs increased in 2026?
Care home fees in England rose by approximately 7% on average in 2025–26, driven by National Living Wage increases and staffing pressures. Nursing and dementia care has risen faster than residential care. The government council benchmark rate (MSIF) for 2025–26 is £956/week for residential and £1,089/week for nursing care — well below self-funder market rates.
What is the difference between residential and nursing home costs?
Residential care homes provide accommodation and personal care without registered nurses on site. Nursing homes have qualified nurses available 24 hours a day. Nursing fees are typically 15–20% higher — averaging £1,465/week vs £1,250/week nationally. If someone receives NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), the NHS contributes £235.88/week toward nursing home fees.
Find care homes in your area
Browse top-rated homes by city — each page shows CQC ratings, Google reviews, and financial stability scores.
South East
East of England
West Midlands
East Midlands
North West
North East
Know your costs — and who actually pays them
Regional averages show what self-funders typically pay. The Funding Guide calculates whether NHS or council funding applies to your situation — and exactly how much it could reduce the bill.
Self-funder market rate data · Not financial advice