Aged Care Costs Explained

Learn more about aged care costs

The cost of living at an aged care home changes depending on your income, assets, and the home and room type you're moving into.
You may be eligible for assistance from the Australian Government, which might cover all or some of your costs.
We encourage you to speak with an independent financial adviser before moving into an aged care home.

Accommodation costs

Each of our available rooms has an advertised room price - what's known as an accommodation cost. You'll pay less if you're eligible for Australian Government assistance, which might cover all or some of this. If you do need to pay for or contribute to your accomodation cost, there are three different payment options you can choose from:

Option 1: Lump sum payment

You'll make one-off, lump sum payment in the '000s that covers the full accommodation cost - what's known as a Refundable Accommodation Deposit - with the balance returned to you or your estate when you leave.

Entry costs: My Aged Care

Option 2: Rental-style daily payment

Instead of a lump sum, you'll make a Daily Accommodation Payment, which you'll pay directly to your aged care home each month. These daily payments change depending on your room type - find out more from the aged care home you're interested in.

Ongoing costs: My Aged Care

Option 3: Combination payment

You can choose to pay part of the lump sum and part of the daily payment as your accommodation fee.

Payment types: My Aged Care

Care costs

Our care fees cover your day-to-day living costs at your aged care home - including your meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling. These fees are additional to your accommodation costs.

Basic daily care fee

Everyone in aged care in Australia is required to pay this basic daily care fee set by the Australian Government at 85% of the basic pension (single person) - currently $63.82 per day (March 2025).

Pension rates

Means tested care fee

Only those who've had their income and assets assessed by the Australian Government and are not eligible for support will pay for or contribute to this care fee.

Aged care costs: My Aged Care

Other costs

Depending on the services your aged care home offers, there may be other costs. These are additional service fees - for things like having your hair done at an on-site hair salon and costs for activities and trips. You'll also need to cover your medication costs. Speak with the aged care home you're interested in to find out more.

Are you eligible?

The first step to access government-funded aged care services is to check your eligibility for an assessment. You can do this online, or by calling My Aged Care to talk about your needs on 1800 200 422.
If you have previously registered with My Aged Care, you cannot apply for an assessment online and will need to call My Aged Care.

Learn more about the assessment

Example cost scenarios

The Australian Government's Department of Health website outlines a number of aged care fee scenarios for full pensioners, part-pensioners, self-funded retirees and couples.

Learn more

Interested in learning more?

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