Care Cost in North Dakota
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in North Dakota.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$6,483/mo
$77,796 per year
Home care services in North Dakota 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 North Dakota offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$5,525/mo
$66,300 per year
Adult day care programs in North Dakota offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in North Dakota are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$4,729/mo
$56,748 per year
Assisted living facilities in North Dakota provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in North Dakota typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$5,900/mo
$70,800 per year
Memory care facilities in North Dakota 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 North Dakota are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$11,528/mo
$138,336 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in North Dakota offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in North Dakota reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$12,304/mo
$147,648 per year
A private room in a North Dakota nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In North Dakota, a private room costs about 7% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across North Dakota
Fargo generally has North Dakota's highest care costs, with demand concentrated in the state's largest metro. Bismarck and Grand Forks offer mid-range comparisons. Minot, Williston, and Dickinson can see prices fluctuate with the energy economy, so local quotes matter when evaluating the western region. Rural central and southeastern communities, including reservations, have fewer providers and more limited home care. Before relying on care at home outside a major city, confirm local service availability and ask the Human Service Zone office for program guidance.
Read the full North Dakota planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $6,483 | $77,796 | $6,673 | -3% |
| Adult Day Care | $5,525 | $66,300 | $2,058 | +168% |
| Assisted Living | $4,729 | $56,748 | $6,200 | -24% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $5,900 | $70,800 | $7,800 | -24% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $11,528 | $138,336 | $9,581 | +20% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $12,304 | $147,648 | $10,798 | +14% |
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 | $6,483 | $7,516 | $8,713 |
| Adult Day Care | $5,525 | $6,405 | $7,425 |
| Assisted Living | $4,729 | $5,482 | $6,355 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $5,900 | $6,840 | $7,929 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $11,528 | $13,364 | $15,493 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $12,304 | $14,264 | $16,536 |
* 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 North Dakota can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $240,460 | $413,030 | $891,844 |
| Adult Day Care | $204,927 | $351,996 | $760,055 |
| Assisted Living | $175,402 | $301,283 | $650,552 |
| Memory Care | $218,836 | $375,887 | $811,643 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $427,583 | $734,445 | $1,585,867 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $456,365 | $783,883 | $1,692,619 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$12,304/mo
NH Private Room · North Dakota
Monthly Cost Today
$12,304/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 North Dakota
Updated October 2026Assisted living in North Dakota costs $4,729/month in 2026 — 24% below the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in North Dakota runs $11,528/month, 20% above the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in North Dakota averages $6,483/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($34/hr) — 3% below the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in North Dakota is assisted living at $4,729/month.
Memory care in North Dakota runs about $5,900/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 North Dakota costs $12,304/month — 14% above the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in North Dakota can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the North Dakota Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in North Dakota
Families in North Dakota have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
North Dakota Medicaid
North Dakota Medicaid is administered by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Medicaid State Plan Personal Care Services (MSP-PC): Helps with everyday tasks through a qualified provider chosen by the participant, including certain friends or relatives.
- Aged and Disabled Waiver: Supports living outside a nursing home through personal care, adult day services, delivered meals, and home changes.
North Dakota does not require a Miller Trust for Medicaid long-term care.
Read the North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many North Dakota 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 North Dakota
- ND Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 1-855-462-5465 (press 3).
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in North Dakota, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- North Dakota Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View North Dakota's Area Agencies on Aging list
Frequently Asked Questions About North Dakota Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in North Dakota is $4,729 per month, or $56,748 per year. This is 24% below the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in North Dakota typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in North Dakota costs an average of $11,528 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $12,304 per month, or $147,648 per year. North Dakota 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, North Dakota 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 $11,528 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 North Dakota: (1) Medicaid — North Dakota'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 North Dakota is assisted living at $4,729 per month, followed by adult day care at $5,525 per month. For many North Dakota families, combining lower-cost options like adult day care with part-time home care can be an effective way to manage long-term care expenses.
North Dakota offers state-plan personal care and the Aged and Disabled Waiver for people needing ongoing support. Under state-plan personal care, a friend or selected relative can become a Qualified Service Provider and be hired to help. The waiver may have a waiting list, so ask about enrollment while planning care outside a nursing home.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's North Dakota 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 North Dakota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-855-462-5465 (press 3).
Compare Nearby States
See how North Dakota's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Minnesota
+8%Montana
-3%South Dakota
-9%More North Dakota Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See North Dakota's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
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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.