Memory care in 2025 costs between $4,000 and $11,000 or more per month, with the national median sitting at roughly $6,450 per month according to A Place for Mom’s 2025 long-term care cost report. U.S. News places the national average somewhat higher, at $7,505 per month, which works out to more than $90,000 annually.
A family in suburban Atlanta, for instance, might pay closer to $4,000 to $5,000 per month, while a family in Honolulu could face bills exceeding $14,000 per month for the same level of care. The gap is not trivial — it can mean the difference between a decade of coverage from personal savings and a few years. This article breaks down what those numbers actually represent, which states are the most and least expensive, what drives costs up or down, and how families can begin planning financially before a crisis forces the decision. We also address what is typically included in a monthly fee, where the hidden costs tend to appear, and what the realistic multi-year financial picture looks like for most families.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Average Monthly Cost of Memory Care Facilities in 2025?
- How Do Memory Care Costs Vary by State?
- What Does a Monthly Memory Care Fee Actually Cover?
- What Drives Memory Care Costs Up or Down?
- What Are the Long-Term Financial Realities of Memory Care?
- How Does Memory Care Compare to Other Long-Term Care Options?
- What Should Families Expect Looking Ahead?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Average Monthly Cost of Memory Care Facilities in 2025?
The most widely cited national median for memory care in 2025 is $6,450 per month, from A Place for Mom’s annual cost report. A University of Southern California study put the median range somewhat higher, at $6,988 to $7,292 per month. These figures reflect the cost of dedicated memory care units — secured facilities specifically designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and related cognitive conditions — rather than general assisted living. The difference between these estimates matters less than the range they bracket.
At the low end, families in rural or lower cost-of-living states can find quality memory care for under $5,000 per month. At the high end, urban facilities in expensive metro areas routinely exceed $10,000. A Place for Mom’s data shows the full national range running from roughly $4,000 to more than $11,000 per month. It is worth noting that memory care costs consistently run higher than standard assisted living — typically 20 to 30 percent more — because of the additional staff training, secured unit infrastructure, and specialized programming required. If someone is in a general assisted living facility and their dementia progresses to the point where they require a memory care unit, expect a meaningful jump in monthly costs at that transition.
How Do Memory Care Costs Vary by State?
Geographic variation in memory care pricing is dramatic enough to materially affect long-term financial planning. Hawaii is among the most expensive states in the country, with average monthly costs around $14,399 — translating to roughly $172,788 per year. Washington D.C. comes in near $11,490 per month. By contrast, Georgia averages around $3,995 per month, and South Dakota ranges between $2,875 and $5,538 per month depending on the specific facility and care level, with annual costs as low as $66,456.
These differences reflect broader regional cost-of-living patterns — staffing costs, real estate prices, and state-level regulations all factor in. A memory care facility in a major coastal city faces very different operating costs than one in a mid-sized Southern or Midwestern town, and those costs pass directly to residents. However, moving a parent or spouse to a cheaper state purely to reduce memory care costs rarely makes sense in practice. Disrupting a person with dementia’s familiar environment, routines, and proximity to family caregivers can accelerate cognitive decline and cause significant distress. The financial savings can be real, but they need to be weighed against the human cost of relocation. Families who already have existing ties to lower-cost states have a genuine advantage here; those who do not should be cautious about treating geography as a simple lever to pull.
What Does a Monthly Memory Care Fee Actually Cover?
Most memory care facilities charge an all-inclusive or bundled monthly rate that covers the core elements of daily living and safety. Standard inclusions typically are 24-hour supervised care, three daily meals plus snacks, housekeeping and laundry, secured unit access to prevent wandering, assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and medication management, and structured cognitive therapies and programming. The structured activities component is not a minor amenity — it is a clinical feature. Memory care facilities are specifically designed around programming that slows cognitive decline, reduces agitation, and supports quality of life. This includes music therapy, reminiscence programs, sensory activities, and structured physical movement.
A general assisted living facility does not typically provide this level of dementia-specific programming, which is part of why memory care costs more. That said, not everything is included. Many facilities charge separately for incontinence supplies, personal care items, transportation, specialized medical services, and higher levels of one-on-one care for residents with advanced needs. Before signing a contract, families should ask specifically what triggers additional charges and request an itemized list of what the base monthly rate covers. A facility quoting $5,500 per month that charges extensively for add-ons may end up costing more than one quoting $6,200 with a more comprehensive bundled rate.
What Drives Memory Care Costs Up or Down?
Four primary factors determine where any individual facility falls within the $4,000 to $11,000-plus monthly range. The first is location, which drives more of the variation than any other single factor. The second is the level of care required — a resident in the early stages of dementia who needs minimal hands-on assistance will typically pay less than someone in later stages requiring extensive personal care and behavioral support. Room type is the third variable. Private rooms cost significantly more than shared or semi-private accommodations, sometimes $1,000 to $2,000 per month more at the same facility.
For a couple where both partners require memory care, some facilities offer shared rooms at a reduced combined rate, though availability is limited. Finally, facility amenities and staffing ratios affect pricing. A facility with a higher staff-to-resident ratio, a purpose-built dementia-friendly physical environment, and extensive programming will charge more than a lower-staffed facility in a converted older building. The tradeoff between cost and quality here is real but not straightforward. A lower-cost facility in a lower cost-of-living area may provide excellent care; a higher-cost urban facility may offer premium amenities but not necessarily better clinical outcomes. Families should prioritize staffing ratios, staff turnover rates, and state inspection records when evaluating quality — not just price and physical appearance.
What Are the Long-Term Financial Realities of Memory Care?
The multi-year cost picture is where many families are caught off guard. At a national median of roughly $6,450 per month, annual costs reach approximately $77,400. At the U.S. News average of $7,505 per month, annual costs exceed $90,000. Most financial planners working with families facing dementia diagnoses cite $80,000 to $100,000 per year as the working range for planning purposes. Over a typical two to three year stay, the total cost runs between $180,000 and $270,000.
Total U.S. memory care spending was projected at $781 billion in 2025 by a University of Southern California study — a figure that reflects both the scale of the aging population and the intensity of the care required. For individual families, the implication is that personal savings, retirement accounts, and home equity are frequently insufficient to cover the full duration of care without additional planning. The critical warning here is that Alzheimer’s and related dementias are progressive — average survival after diagnosis ranges from four to eight years, though some individuals live significantly longer. A family planning for a two-year memory care stay may find themselves in year five or six, having exhausted personal resources. Medicaid does cover memory care in many states, but it requires spending down assets to eligibility thresholds, and not all memory care facilities accept Medicaid. Families should consult an elder law attorney early — ideally before a memory care placement is imminent — to understand Medicaid planning options in their specific state.
How Does Memory Care Compare to Other Long-Term Care Options?
Memory care facilities are not the only option for dementia care, and understanding where they sit in the cost spectrum can help families make more informed decisions. Home care for someone with dementia can cost $25 to $35 or more per hour for a trained home health aide, which at full-time coverage quickly exceeds the cost of a facility. Adult day programs, which provide daytime supervision and structured programming while a family caregiver manages evenings and weekends, typically run $75 to $150 per day and can extend the time before a full residential placement is needed.
Assisted living memory care units, nursing home memory care wings, and standalone memory care communities each represent a different level of clinical intensity and cost. Nursing facilities with dedicated dementia units often cost more than standalone memory care communities but provide access to on-site skilled nursing, which becomes relevant in later stages of the disease. Families should think about these options as a progression rather than a single decision, and plan financially for the likelihood that care needs — and costs — will increase over time.
What Should Families Expect Looking Ahead?
Memory care costs have risen steadily over the past decade and there is no structural reason to expect that trend to reverse. Workforce shortages in long-term care, rising real estate costs in many markets, and an aging baby boomer cohort all point toward continued upward pressure on pricing through the late 2020s and into the 2030s. Families doing financial planning today for a diagnosis that may require residential care in three to five years should build in an annual cost escalation assumption of at least three to five percent.
Long-term care insurance, if purchased before a diagnosis, remains one of the more reliable tools for covering memory care costs, though premiums have increased substantially and coverage is harder to obtain than it was a decade ago. Hybrid life insurance products with long-term care riders have emerged as an alternative for some families. The overarching point is that the window for financial planning closes with diagnosis — the earlier a family begins, the more options remain available.
Conclusion
Memory care in 2025 costs most families somewhere between $77,000 and $100,000 per year, with wide variation based on geography, care needs, room type, and facility quality. The national median of $6,450 per month is a useful baseline, but families in high cost-of-living states should plan for significantly higher figures, while those in lower-cost regions may find more affordable options without sacrificing quality.
A two to three year stay — a common planning horizon — means total costs in the range of $180,000 to $270,000, a figure that demands early and deliberate financial preparation. The most important steps families can take are to start the conversation with an elder law attorney and financial advisor before placement is imminent, understand what Medicaid covers and requires in their specific state, and visit multiple facilities with specific questions about what is included in the monthly rate and what triggers additional charges. The cost of memory care is significant, but with early planning, families have more control over the quality of care their loved one receives and the financial path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare cover memory care facility costs?
Medicare does not cover long-term memory care facility costs. It may cover short-term skilled nursing care following a qualifying hospital stay, but it does not pay for ongoing residential memory care. Medicaid can cover memory care in many states, but requires meeting income and asset eligibility thresholds.
What is the difference between memory care and assisted living?
Memory care is a specialized form of residential care designed specifically for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive conditions. It features secured units, higher staff-to-resident ratios, and structured cognitive programming. Assisted living is a broader category that may or may not include dedicated dementia care. Memory care typically costs 20 to 30 percent more than standard assisted living.
How long do people typically stay in memory care?
The length of stay varies significantly depending on when in the course of the disease someone enters memory care. Many residents stay two to three years, but some remain for five years or longer as the disease progresses. Financial planning should account for a range of scenarios, not a single assumed duration.
Can a couple share a room in a memory care facility?
Some memory care facilities offer shared rooms for couples, though availability is limited. This can reduce the per-person cost, but it depends on both individuals having compatible care needs and the facility having the physical space to accommodate couples.
What questions should I ask when comparing memory care facilities?
Key questions include: What is the staff-to-resident ratio? What is the staff turnover rate? What does the base monthly rate include and what triggers additional charges? Does the facility accept Medicaid? What happens if a resident’s care needs increase significantly? Reviewing state inspection records and speaking with families of current residents also provides important context.
Is there financial assistance available beyond Medicaid?
Veterans and their spouses may qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, which can provide meaningful monthly payments toward long-term care costs. Some states have additional assistance programs. Long-term care insurance, if already in place, can cover a significant portion of memory care costs. An elder law attorney can help identify all available options for a specific family’s situation.
