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ElderCareCosts
Updated August 2026

Cost of Adult Day Care in North Carolina

Adult day care in North Carolina costs a median of $1,831 a month (estimated range $1,748 to $1,990), below the national median.

Figures are for adult day health care, five days a week, from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.

Median monthly price, North Carolina

$1,831/mo

Estimated range $1,748 – $1,990

● North Carolina $1,831 ○ National median $2,058

Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025

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City, state, and national

Each area's cost compared with the national median.

Adult Day Care cost by area (2025)
AreaScaleMonthly costvs national
Charlotte$1,918/mo−6.8%
Raleigh$1,855/mo−9.9%
Greensboro$1,677/mo−18.5%
Durham$1,916/mo−6.9%
Winston-Salem$1,732/mo−15.8%
Fayetteville$1,660/mo−19.3%
Cary$1,855/mo−9.9%
North Carolina (state median)$1,831/mo−11.0%
United States$2,058/moreference

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Open any city page for the full provider table. For example, adult day care in Charlotte.

City figures are the North Carolina median adjusted for local wages and housing costs, so cities in the same metro area share one figure.

Compare every state: Adult Day Care cost by state · 2026 Cost of Care Index

Adult Day Care cost trend in North Carolina
2024: $1,727/mo; 2025: $1,831/mo$2k$2k$2k$1,7272024$1,8312025

The 2024 figure is our estimate, the 2020 survey adjusted by national price growth. The 2025 figure is the CareScout survey itself, so the change between the two is not a measured one-year change.

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Compare adult day care costs

Switch units, compare two places, and see a simple five-year projection.

North Carolina

$1,831/mo/mo

Based on 2025 survey data.

National median

$2,058/mo/mo

Need a different pair of places? Open the full cost calculator. Not sure which care type? Take the care quiz.

What can you afford?

Here is what different monthly budgets cover in North Carolina.

Under $2,500/mo

Adult day care, family care or affordable senior housing

Adult day care in North Carolina runs about $1,831 a month. Income-restricted affordable senior housing is the other common choice. Ask each property about its income limits. If money is very tight, ask about Medicaid waivers.
Affordable senior apartments →
$2,500 – $7,000/mo

Assisted living or home care

Part-time home care, 20 hours a week, runs about $2,600 a month. Full-time home care at 44 hours a week runs about $5,720 a month. Assisted living in North Carolina runs about $6,496 a month at the median, and smaller homes often charge less. If Medicaid may apply, ask about waiver programs.
Medicaid & waiver paths →
$7,000 – $11,000/mo

Nursing homes

Nursing homes in North Carolina run about $9,733 a month at the median.
How families pay →
Over $11,000/mo

Round-the-clock home care

Round-the-clock home care runs about $21,840 a month.
How families pay →

How to pay for adult day care in North Carolina

Private pay (savings, income, home equity)Most common
The default payer for most families at the start, especially for assisted living and in-home care. Often combined with a second source once savings run low.
Long-term care insuranceCommon
Pays toward care costs if a policy was purchased in advance, usually years before care is needed. Policy terms (daily/monthly benefit caps, elimination periods) vary widely. Check the policy documents directly.
Medicaid (state-run, income- and asset-limited)Common
Covers nursing home care in every state, and many states offer Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that extend Medicaid to assisted living or in-home care. Eligibility rules and waiver availability are state-specific.
VA Aid & Attendance (veterans and surviving spouses)Situational
An added benefit on top of a VA pension for eligible wartime veterans (or surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. Requires meeting service, income, and care-need criteria.
MedicareNarrow eligibility
Does not cover long-term custodial care (help with daily living). It can cover short-term skilled nursing or home health following a qualifying hospital stay, under specific conditions.

Medicaid and every admission will ask who can sign for your parent. Get the power of attorney done online. Sponsored

Between visits, a medical alert button covers the hours no one is in the house. See plans and the current offer. Sponsored

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

North Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps residents of nursing homes, assisted living, and similar settings in North Carolina resolve concerns about care and rights.

Find your local ombudsman

Medicaid programs for care at home

National helplines

Frequently asked questions

How much does adult day care cost in North Carolina?

Adult day care in North Carolina costs a median of $1,831 a month (estimated range $1,748 to $1,990). Figures are for adult day health care, five days a week, from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.

Find North Carolina care options

Tell us what you need and your budget. We'll email you licensed options nearby the same day.

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Browse by city in North Carolina

CharlotteRaleighGreensboroDurhamWinston-SalemFayettevilleCaryWilmingtonHigh Point

Other care types in North Carolina

In-Home CareHome Health CareAssisted LivingMemory CareIndependent LivingNursing HomesContinuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)

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