Care Cost in Minnesota
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in Minnesota.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$8,389/mo
$100,668 per year
Home care services in Minnesota include personal care aides and home health aides who help seniors age in place with assistance for bathing, meals, and mobility. In-home caregivers in Minnesota offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$2,600/mo
$31,200 per year
Adult day care programs in Minnesota offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in Minnesota are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$6,573/mo
$78,876 per year
Assisted living facilities in Minnesota provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in Minnesota typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$8,200/mo
$98,400 per year
Memory care facilities in Minnesota provide specialized support for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These secured communities offer structured routines, cognitive therapies, and 24-hour supervision. Memory care costs in Minnesota are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$10,646/mo
$127,752 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in Minnesota offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in Minnesota reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$13,870/mo
$166,440 per year
A private room in a Minnesota nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In Minnesota, a private room costs about 30% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across Minnesota
The Twin Cities metropolitan area and Rochester are generally higher-cost markets. Greater Minnesota, including Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Moorhead, the Iron Range, western prairies, and southern communities, generally has lower costs. Provider availability may be more limited outside the main population centers, especially in the most rural areas. In Greater Minnesota, contact the county or tribal human services office for application help while checking which local providers can deliver the needed care.
Read the full Minnesota planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $8,389 | $100,668 | $6,673 | +26% |
| Adult Day Care | $2,600 | $31,200 | $2,058 | +26% |
| Assisted Living | $6,573 | $78,876 | $6,200 | +6% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $8,200 | $98,400 | $7,800 | +5% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $10,646 | $127,752 | $9,581 | +11% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $13,870 | $166,440 | $10,798 | +28% |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026)
Cost Projections
Estimated future monthly costs based on a 3% annual care cost inflation rate.
| Care Type | Today | In 5 Years | In 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $8,389 | $9,725 | $11,274 |
| Adult Day Care | $2,600 | $3,014 | $3,494 |
| Assisted Living | $6,573 | $7,620 | $8,834 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $8,200 | $9,506 | $11,020 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $10,646 | $12,342 | $14,307 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $13,870 | $16,079 | $18,640 |
* Projections are estimates based on historical care cost inflation trends. Actual costs may vary.
Total Cost of Care Over Time
Cumulative cost if care begins today, including 3% annual inflation. These totals show what families in Minnesota can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $311,155 | $534,460 | $1,154,046 |
| Adult Day Care | $96,436 | $165,645 | $357,673 |
| Assisted Living | $243,798 | $418,763 | $904,225 |
| Memory Care | $304,145 | $522,419 | $1,128,046 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $394,869 | $678,253 | $1,464,534 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $514,449 | $883,653 | $1,908,048 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$13,870/mo
NH Private Room · Minnesota
Monthly Cost Today
$13,870/mo
3% inflation · 3 years of care
Don't rush to sell the home
Bridge loans, HELOCs, and reverse mortgages can fund care without selling.
Care costs rise 3–5% annually
Factor long-term inflation into all planning models.
Medicaid lookback is 5 years
Planning must begin well before care is needed to protect assets.
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (updated March 2026)
* AK NH Private Room: A Place For Mom. ADC — DE: Genworth; DC: PayingForSeniorCare; ID: MedicaidLongTermCare.org; SD: Genworth; VT: VT Adult Services Div.; WV: CareCostIndex.com.
Key Insights for Minnesota
Updated October 2026Assisted living in Minnesota costs $6,573/month in 2026 — 6% above the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in Minnesota runs $10,646/month, 11% above the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in Minnesota averages $8,389/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($44/hr) — 26% above the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in Minnesota is adult day care at $2,600/month.
Memory care in Minnesota runs about $8,200/month — roughly 25% above the assisted living rate, the typical industry markup (CareScout does not publish memory care data separately).
A private nursing home room in Minnesota costs $13,870/month — 28% above the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in Minnesota can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the Minnesota Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in Minnesota
Families in Minnesota have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
Minnesota Medicaid
Minnesota Medicaid is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
- Elderly Waiver (EW): Supports older adults at home, in adult foster care, or in assisted living, with a choice of agency services or self-directed care.
- Personal Care Assistance (PCA) / Community First Services and Supports (CFSS): Helps with daily routines such as bathing, dressing, cooking, and shopping, including options to choose and manage a caregiver.
Minnesota does not require a Miller Trust for Medicaid long-term care.
Read the Minnesota Medicaid guideVeterans Benefits
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can provide up to $2,424/month for single veterans (or $2,874/month with a spouse) in Minnesota to help pay for assisted living, nursing home care, or in-home caregivers.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies purchased before care is needed can cover a significant portion of assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs in Minnesota.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many Minnesota families use a combination of retirement savings, Social Security income, and home equity (through reverse mortgages or home sales) to fund long-term care.
Who to call in Minnesota
- Minnesota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 1-800-657-3591
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in Minnesota, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View Minnesota's Area Agencies on Aging list- Minnesota Veterans Homes
- (888) 546-5838
Contact the veterans home or state office about care options for veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in Minnesota is $6,573 per month, or $78,876 per year. This is 6% above the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in Minnesota typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in Minnesota costs an average of $10,646 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $13,870 per month, or $166,440 per year. Minnesota nursing home costs are above the national average of $9,581 per month for a semi-private room. Medicare only covers short rehab stays. For long stays, most families pay privately until savings run low, then Medicaid steps in.
Yes, Minnesota is more expensive than average for long-term care, with costs approximately 15% above the national average. The most expensive option is nursing home care at $10,646 per month. Families should explore Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance to help manage these costs.
There are several ways to pay for nursing home and long-term care in Minnesota: (1) Medicaid — Minnesota's Medicaid program covers nursing home care for eligible residents who meet income and asset limits. (2) Medicare — covers short-term skilled nursing after a hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care. (3) Long-term care insurance — if purchased in advance, policies can help cover assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs. (4) Veterans benefits — the VA Aid and Attendance benefit helps eligible veterans and surviving spouses pay for care. (5) Personal savings and assets — many families use a combination of savings, home equity, and retirement funds.
The most affordable long-term care option in Minnesota is adult day care at $2,600 per month, followed by assisted living at $6,573 per month. Adult day care provides daytime supervision, activities, and meals while allowing seniors to return home in the evening — making it a popular choice for families with a caregiver at home.
Yes, Minnesota's Elderly Waiver includes assisted living services for eligible seniors. Participants can use a provider agency or direct their care through Consumer Directed Community Supports, including hiring an adult child or spouse. A waiting list may apply, so check enrollment when comparing care options.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging list helps you find local care-planning resources. For questions about resident rights or concerns about nursing home or assisted living care, contact the Minnesota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-800-657-3591.
Compare Nearby States
See how Minnesota's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Iowa
-19%North Dakota
-8%South Dakota
-16%Wisconsin
-8%More Minnesota Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See Minnesota's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
View Minnesota Medicaid GuideGet a Personalized Plan
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Create Free AccountSource: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, July–November 2025, released March 2026 (Genworth/CareScout). Monthly NH figures = annual ÷ 12 (365-day basis). Non-medical caregiver = 44 hrs/week × 52 weeks ÷ 12. Memory care is an estimate (assisted living x 1.25). CareScout does not publish memory care data.