Care Cost in Montana
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in Montana.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$7,245/mo
$86,940 per year
Home care services in Montana 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 Montana offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$5,783/mo
$69,396 per year
Adult day care programs in Montana offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in Montana are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$6,075/mo
$72,900 per year
Assisted living facilities in Montana provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in Montana typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$7,600/mo
$91,200 per year
Memory care facilities in Montana 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 Montana are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$8,973/mo
$107,676 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in Montana offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in Montana reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$9,581/mo
$114,972 per year
A private room in a Montana nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In Montana, a private room costs about 7% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across Montana
Billings and Bozeman are generally Montana’s highest-cost areas, while Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena are mid-range. The Flathead Valley has growing demand. Eastern and central Montana generally have lower costs, but provider availability is significantly more limited, particularly for home care and specialized memory care. Before choosing a lower-cost eastern or central Montana community, confirm access to home care or specialized memory care rather than assuming those services are nearby.
Read the full Montana planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $7,245 | $86,940 | $6,673 | +9% |
| Adult Day Care | $5,783 | $69,396 | $2,058 | +181% |
| Assisted Living | $6,075 | $72,900 | $6,200 | -2% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $7,600 | $91,200 | $7,800 | -3% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $8,973 | $107,676 | $9,581 | -6% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $9,581 | $114,972 | $10,798 | -11% |
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 | $7,245 | $8,399 | $9,737 |
| Adult Day Care | $5,783 | $6,704 | $7,772 |
| Assisted Living | $6,075 | $7,043 | $8,164 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $7,600 | $8,810 | $10,214 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $8,973 | $10,402 | $12,059 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $9,581 | $11,107 | $12,876 |
* 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 Montana can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $268,723 | $461,576 | $996,670 |
| Adult Day Care | $214,496 | $368,433 | $795,547 |
| Assisted Living | $225,327 | $387,036 | $835,717 |
| Memory Care | $281,890 | $484,193 | $1,045,506 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $332,816 | $571,667 | $1,234,385 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $355,367 | $610,402 | $1,318,025 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
Calculate Your Montana Care Costs
Model different care scenarios with adjustable duration and inflation
Calculate Your Montana Costs
State-specific data · Inflation projection · Total estimate
Use the sliders below to adjust years, inflation, and projection period
Not sure how long you'll need care? Get full insights into when you may need care, what kind, and for how long — personalized to your health and finances.
Your Cost Estimate
Today's Monthly Cost
$9,581/mo
NH Private Room · Montana
Monthly Cost Today
$9,581/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 Montana
Updated October 2026Assisted living in Montana costs $6,075/month in 2026 — 2% below the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in Montana runs $8,973/month, 6% below the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in Montana averages $7,245/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($38/hr) — 9% above the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in Montana is adult day care at $5,783/month.
Memory care in Montana runs about $7,600/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 Montana costs $9,581/month — 11% below the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in Montana can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the Montana Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in Montana
Families in Montana have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
Montana Medicaid
Montana Medicaid is administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
- Big Sky Waiver (BSW) / HCBS Waiver: Supports people who need nursing home-level care at home, in assisted living, or in adult foster care through services such as nursing, home changes, and personal assistance.
- Community First Choice Services (CFCS) & Personal Care Services (PCS): Helps with daily tasks at home and lets participants choose a caregiver, including adult children but not spouses.
Montana does not require a Miller Trust for Medicaid long-term care.
Read the Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many Montana 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 Montana
- Montana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- (406) 444-3285
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in Montana, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- Montana Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View Montana's Area Agencies on Aging list
Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in Montana is $6,075 per month, or $72,900 per year. This is 2% below the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in Montana typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in Montana costs an average of $8,973 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $9,581 per month, or $114,972 per year. Montana nursing home costs are below 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, Montana 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 $8,973 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 Montana: (1) Medicaid — Montana'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 Montana is adult day care at $5,783 per month, followed by assisted living at $6,075 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, Montana's Big Sky Waiver includes assisted living and adult foster care for eligible people who need nursing home-level care. Participants can choose their caregiver, including an adult child or spouse. A waiting list may apply, so ask about access before depending on waiver support.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's Montana 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 Montana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at (406) 444-3285.
Compare Nearby States
See how Montana's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Idaho
-2%North Dakota
+3%South Dakota
-7%Wyoming
-1%More Montana Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See Montana's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
View Montana Medicaid GuideGet a Personalized Plan
Create a free care roadmap tailored to your finances, health, and location.
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.