The Cost of Senior Living in California (2026)
An analysis of all-in monthly pricing across 7,939 licensed California senior living communities. Across the state, care averages $6,405/mo all-in — base rent plus a typical care add-on — with a median of $6,700. Memory care runs about 2% more than assisted living, reflecting its secured setting and specialized staffing.
Published August 1, 2026 by Chapter · Free to cite with a link to this page.
Average cost by type of senior care
All-in monthly cost — base rent plus a typical care add-on — statewide.
Most and least expensive California cities
Average all-in monthly cost, among cities with at least 10 listed communities.
Most affordable
Most expensive
Average senior living cost by county
Counties ranked from most affordable to most expensive (minimum 10 communities).
How we calculated this
Figures are drawn from 7,939 licensed senior living communities in California, sourced from public state licensing records and Chapter's community-verified pricing. "All-in" cost means base monthly rent plus a typical care add-on at average acuity; it excludes one-time move-in fees. Where a community has not yet verified its rate on Chapter, an estimate based on regional averages is used and refined over time, so figures update as more communities confirm pricing. City and county figures include only areas with at least 10 communities to keep averages meaningful.
Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this analysis with attribution to Chapter (chaptersenior.com).
This is general cost information for planning, not financial advice. Actual pricing varies by apartment size, level of care, and community.
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