How much does a nursing home cost?
A nursing home in England costs a self-funder around £1,447 a week on average, or roughly £75,244 a year. Councils pay homes about £1,026 a week for the same care. Costs vary a lot by area, from under £1,000 in parts of the North to well over £1,600 in the South East.
Why a nursing home costs more than residential care
A nursing home has qualified nurses on site around the clock, on top of the care assistants you would find in a residential home. That staffing is the main reason nursing care costs roughly £155 a week more than residential care. Nursing homes suit people with ongoing medical needs, complex conditions or frailty that needs a registered nurse, rather than help with day-to-day tasks alone.
The NHS contribution most people miss
If someone in a nursing home needs care from a registered nurse, the NHS pays a flat weekly amount toward it, called NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC). It is around £230 a week (reviewed each year by NHS England) and is paid directly to the home, reducing the nursing premium for everyone, whether self-funding or council-funded. You do not need to be means-tested for it; eligibility is assessed by a nurse. If health needs are higher still, the whole cost may be met through NHS Continuing Healthcare.
Nursing home costs by region
Typical weekly nursing fees a self-funder pays, and what councils pay for the same care.
| Region | You pay (self-funder) | Council pays |
|---|---|---|
| South East | £1,596 | £1,132 |
| South West | £1,567 | £1,111 |
| West Midlands | £1,451 | £1,029 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,399 | £992 |
| East Midlands | £1,396 | £990 |
| East of England | £1,379 | £978 |
| London | £1,378 | £977 |
| North West | £1,341 | £951 |
| North East | £1,296 | £919 |
| England average | £1,447 | £1,026 |
Care cost estimator
Not counting your home for now.
Estimated weekly cost
About £75,244/year. The council pays providers about £1,026/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 6 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.
Will you have to pay it all?
That depends on 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. Your home counts as capital unless a partner still lives there. See how the means test works and how to pay for a care home, or check costs in your area.
Figures are estimates for England based on official council data plus the average self-funder premium. This is research, not financial advice.