Care Cost in South Carolina
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in South Carolina.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$5,982/mo
$71,784 per year
Home care services in South Carolina 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 South Carolina offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$1,560/mo
$18,720 per year
Adult day care programs in South Carolina offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in South Carolina are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$5,350/mo
$64,200 per year
Assisted living facilities in South Carolina provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in South Carolina typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$6,700/mo
$80,400 per year
Memory care facilities in South Carolina 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 South Carolina are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$9,034/mo
$108,408 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in South Carolina offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in South Carolina reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$9,612/mo
$115,344 per year
A private room in a South Carolina nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In South Carolina, a private room costs about 6% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across South Carolina
Charleston and its surrounding counties generally have South Carolina's highest care costs. Greenville-Spartanburg offers mid-range prices and strong provider availability, while Columbia tends to have moderate costs. Retirement migration has increased demand around Myrtle Beach and Horry County. Rural Pee Dee and Lowcountry communities can cost less, but have far fewer providers and limited home care. Before planning support at home in those regions, confirm local service availability and ask the Healthy Connections county office about program and application options.
Read the full South Carolina planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $5,982 | $71,784 | $6,673 | -10% |
| Adult Day Care | $1,560 | $18,720 | $2,058 | -24% |
| Assisted Living | $5,350 | $64,200 | $6,200 | -14% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $6,700 | $80,400 | $7,800 | -14% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $9,034 | $108,408 | $9,581 | -6% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $9,612 | $115,344 | $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 | $5,982 | $6,935 | $8,039 |
| Adult Day Care | $1,560 | $1,808 | $2,097 |
| Assisted Living | $5,350 | $6,202 | $7,190 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $6,700 | $7,767 | $9,004 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $9,034 | $10,473 | $12,141 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $9,612 | $11,143 | $12,918 |
* 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 South Carolina can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $221,877 | $381,111 | $822,923 |
| Adult Day Care | $57,862 | $99,387 | $214,604 |
| Assisted Living | $198,436 | $340,847 | $735,981 |
| Memory Care | $248,508 | $426,855 | $921,696 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $335,078 | $575,553 | $1,242,776 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $356,517 | $612,377 | $1,322,290 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$9,612/mo
NH Private Room · South Carolina
Monthly Cost Today
$9,612/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 South Carolina
Updated October 2026Assisted living in South Carolina costs $5,350/month in 2026 — 14% below the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in South Carolina runs $9,034/month, 6% below the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in South Carolina averages $5,982/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($31/hr) — 10% below the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in South Carolina is adult day care at $1,560/month.
Memory care in South Carolina runs about $6,700/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 South Carolina costs $9,612/month — 11% below the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in South Carolina can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the South Carolina Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in South Carolina
Families in South Carolina have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
South Carolina Medicaid
South Carolina Medicaid is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).
- South Carolina Community Choices Waiver: Helps people who need nursing home-level care receive support at home, in adult foster care, or in community residential care facilities.
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): Brings Medicare and Medicaid benefits together, including long-term care and potentially dental and eye care.
South Carolina requires a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) if your income is over the limit for nursing home or waiver Medicaid.
Read the South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many South Carolina 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 South Carolina
- SC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 1-800-868-9095
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in South Carolina, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- South Carolina Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View South Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging list
Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in South Carolina is $5,350 per month, or $64,200 per year. This is 14% below the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in South Carolina typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in South Carolina costs an average of $9,034 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $9,612 per month, or $115,344 per year. South Carolina 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.
South Carolina is more affordable than average for long-term care, with costs approximately 11% below the national average. The most affordable option is adult day care at $1,560 per month. Even with lower costs, it's important to plan ahead as care needs can change over time.
There are several ways to pay for nursing home and long-term care in South Carolina: (1) Medicaid — South Carolina'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 South Carolina is adult day care at $1,560 per month, followed by assisted living at $5,350 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.
South Carolina's Community Choices Waiver offers support outside a nursing home, including help with daily activities and medical equipment. PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid benefits for people eligible for both. Home Again helps eligible nursing home residents return to the community, so ask which route fits the person's current situation.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's South Carolina 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 South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-800-868-9095.
Compare Nearby States
See how South Carolina's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
More South Carolina Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See South Carolina's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
View South Carolina 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.