England care costs, by area
What does a nursing home really cost?
Real weekly fees for residential and nursing care across England, taken from official council data, with a free calculator that shows what your family is likely to pay and whether the council will help.
Care cost estimator
Not counting your home for now.
Estimated weekly cost
About £67,184/year. The council pays providers about £916/week for the same care; self-funders typically pay more.
You would usually pay the full fees
Your capital is above the £23,250 upper limit, so in England the council does not normally contribute toward care home fees until your assets fall below it.
At this cost, £40,000 of savings would cover roughly 7 months of fees before reaching the £23,250 threshold.
Estimate only, for England. Self-funder figures are based on the council rate plus the average premium self-funders pay; actual prices vary by home. This is research, not financial advice. Speak to your local council or an independent financial adviser before deciding.
Care home costs by region
Typical weekly fees a self-funder pays, and what councils pay providers for the same care. The South East and South West tend to be the priciest; the North is cheaper.
| Region | Residential (you pay) | Nursing (you pay) |
|---|---|---|
| North East | £1,282 | £1,296 |
| North West | £1,127 | £1,341 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,190 | £1,399 |
| East Midlands | £1,270 | £1,396 |
| West Midlands | £1,203 | £1,451 |
| East of England | £1,355 | £1,379 |
| London | £1,371 | £1,378 |
| South East | £1,433 | £1,596 |
| South West | £1,476 | £1,567 |
| England average | £1,292 | £1,447 |
How to read these numbers
Two different prices for the same room
Councils pay care homes a set rate (in England, about £916/week for residential and £1,026/week for nursing). Families who pay for themselves are charged more for the same care, on average around 41% more, because councils pay below the true cost and homes make up the difference from self-funders.
Will the council help? The means test
In England, if your capital is above £23,250 you usually pay the full fees. Below £14,250 the council funds your care and you contribute only from income. Between the two, the council helps but you pay a small weekly amount from your savings. Your home is counted as capital unless a partner still lives there, and for the first 12 weeks it is always disregarded.
What we cannot tell you
Every home prices differently, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive in one area can be hundreds of pounds a week. Use these figures to set expectations and plan, then get real quotes from homes and confirm your funding position with the council or an independent financial adviser. This is research, not financial advice.