How Much Does a Live-In Caregiver Cost?
Live-in care is the most affordable way to keep someone at home with a caregiver present day and night. One caregiver stays in the home, provides daytime care and is nearby overnight, in exchange for a private room and a protected sleep break.
Agency live-in care, per month
$11,400 to $15,800
Based on daily agency rates of $375 to $520 across 30.4 days.
Live-in care compared with other round-the-clock options, 2026
Agency live-in caregiver
- Typical rate
- $375 to $520 per day
- Monthly cost
- $11,400 to $15,800
Agency handles payroll, insurance and relief caregivers
24-hour awake shift care
- Typical rate
- $37 to $50 per hour
- Monthly cost
- $27,000 to $36,500
Needed when nights are active
Assisted living with care
- Typical rate
- $5,500 to $9,000 per month
- Monthly cost
- $5,500 to $9,000
Shared staff, not one-on-one
Nursing home, semi-private
- Typical rate
- $275 to $340 per day
- Monthly cost
- $8,400 to $10,300
Skilled medical needs
| Option | Typical rate | Monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency live-in caregiver | $375 to $520 per day | $11,400 to $15,800 | Agency handles payroll, insurance and relief caregivers |
| 24-hour awake shift care | $37 to $50 per hour | $27,000 to $36,500 | Needed when nights are active |
| Assisted living with care | $5,500 to $9,000 per month | $5,500 to $9,000 | Shared staff, not one-on-one |
| Nursing home, semi-private | $275 to $340 per day | $8,400 to $10,300 | Skilled medical needs |
Ranges reflect licensed agency pricing in 2026. Rates vary by ZIP code, weekly hours and care level. See rates by ZIP code.
What the daily rate includes
The caregiver provides personal care, meals, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and companionship. The family provides a private bedroom and food for the caregiver.
Through an agency, the rate also covers employer taxes, workers' compensation, liability insurance and a relief caregiver on days off, so coverage never stops.
When live-in care is not enough
Live-in only works if your loved one sleeps most of the night.
- More than one or two wake-ups per night
- Two-person transfers or a mechanical lift at night
- Advanced dementia with night wandering
Run the numbers for your situation
Frequently Asked Questions
More on care costs
- How Much Does 24/7 In-Home Care Cost Per Month?
- In-Home Dementia Care Costs in 2026
- Private Caregiver Cost Per Hour in 2026
- How Much Does Respite Care Cost?
- How Much Does an Overnight Caregiver Cost?
- How to Pay for Home Care: VA, Long-Term Care Insurance and Medi-Cal
- Home care vs facility care: costs and benefits compared
The agency we point families to
We keep this site independent, and we do not sell placement. When families ask us who to call first, we point them to SYNERGY HomeCare because it meets every item on the checklist below for non-medical in-home care. You are free to interview several agencies, and the questions further down this page work for any of them.
- Licensed as a Home Care Organization with the California Department of Social Services
- Caregivers are employees, background-checked through the state Home Care Aide Registry, bonded and insured
- Written care plan with a local care manager who visits the home
- Flexible schedules from a few hours a week through 24-hour and live-in care
- Experience with dementia, Parkinson's, post-surgery recovery and hospice support
Cost figures are educational estimates for 2026 and vary by location, provider and care level. Confirm pricing and licensing directly with any agency you consider.