Live-in carer cost: what you can expect to pay

A live-in carer typically costs from around £900 to £2,000 a week, according to MoneyHelper. The price depends on where you live, the level of care needed, and whether you use an agency or employ a carer directly.

This guide is general information, not advice.

What live-in care is

Live-in care means a carer lives in your home and provides support day and night, rather than visiting for set hourly slots. It can be arranged in two main ways: through a home care agency, which recruits, employs and manages the carer, or by directly employing a personal assistant or private carer yourself.

Unlike hourly visiting care, live-in care is typically charged as a weekly rate rather than an hourly one, because the carer is there around the clock. It is often used by people who need help throughout the day and night and want to stay in their own home. Our guide to home care prices covers the hourly alternative for people who need less continuous support.

Live-in carer cost per week

MoneyHelper states that live-in care costs "from £900 to £2,000 per week", citing the UK Home Care Association, and notes that prices vary by location and the level of care needed.

Costs at the higher end of the range may reflect more complex needs or location. See our guide to dementia care costs if dementia care is part of the picture.

What affects the cost

• Location. Prices vary by area.
• Level of need. Personal care, mobility support or nursing-related tasks generally cost more than companionship and light help.
• Agency or direct employment. An agency recruits, employs and manages the carer; employing a personal assistant directly means taking on employer responsibilities such as payroll and arranging cover.

Council funding and the financial assessment for care at home

Anyone who appears to need care can ask their council for a free needs assessment, based on need rather than money. If eligible needs are identified, a financial assessment then looks at income and capital; unlike a permanent move into a care home, the value of your home is not counted for care received at home.

The capital limits and how much you might contribute are set out in full in our guide to paying for care options.

The rules above are for England. In Scotland, the personal or nursing care element of a package assessed as needed is provided free of charge, though other home care support can still be charged for.

Wales caps what someone pays for care and support at home at £100 a week (unchanged since 2024/25), and in Northern Ireland care at home is generally provided without charge. Check the details with your local council or health and social care trust.

Attendance Allowance and other ways to pay

Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. For 2026/27, the lower rate is £76.70 a week and the higher rate is £114.60 a week.

It is not ring-fenced for live-in care but can go towards it.

Equity release is sometimes used to pay for care at home. It is a loan: interest usually rolls up, so the debt grows, less is left for your estate, and released cash can affect means-tested support. A plan usually ends when the last borrower moves permanently into care; see equity release for care fees.

Live-in care compared with a care home

Live-in care lets someone stay in their own home and keep a familiar routine, while a care home has staff on hand round the clock and other residents for company. Which option costs less depends on the level of care needed and where you live; our guide to care home costs sets out typical residential fees to compare against the live-in figures above.

Next steps

A council care needs assessment is free and is usually the first step in any council funding. Because funding rules and personal circumstances vary, an FCA-regulated adviser or a specialist care fees adviser can explain how live-in care compares with other options, including a care home or home care visits. We do not provide financial advice.

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