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ElderCareCosts
Updated August 2026

Cost of In-Home Care in South Carolina

In-home care in South Carolina runs about $2,719 a month at 20 hours a week, a common starting schedule. Full-time care at 44 hours a week runs $5,982 a month, below the national median.

Figures are for a non-medical caregiver, from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.

Starting tier, South Carolina

$2,719/mo

About 20 hours a week: a common starting point for a new home-care client

Full-time care (44 hrs/week, survey standard)

$5,982/mo

Estimated range $5,711 – $6,502

● South Carolina $5,982 at 44 hrs/wk ○ National median $6,769 at 44 hrs/wk

Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025

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City, state, and national

Each area's median compared with the national figure.

In-Home Care cost by area (2025)
AreaScaleMedianvs national
Charleston$6,669/mo−1.5%
Columbia$5,908/mo−12.7%
North Charleston$6,669/mo−1.5%
South Carolina (state median)$5,982/mo−11.6%
United States$6,769/moreference

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Open any city page for the full provider table. For example, in-home care in Charleston.

City figures adjust the South Carolina median for local wages and housing costs.

In-Home Care cost trend in South Carolina
2024: $5,724/mo; 2025: $5,982/mo$6k$8k$10k$5,7242024$5,9822025

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South Carolina

$2,719/mo/mo

Based on 2025 survey data.

National median

$3,077/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 South Carolina.

Under $2,500/mo

Adult day, family care, or affordable senior housing

Adult day care in South Carolina runs about $1,560 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

Part-time home care or entry assisted living

Part-time home care usually falls here. Full-time care at 44 hours a week runs about $5,982 a month. The local assisted living median is $5,350 a month, and smaller homes often charge less. If Medicaid may apply, ask about waiver programs.
Medicaid & waiver paths →
$7,000 – $11,000/mo

Assisted living with room to spare

Covers the South Carolina assisted living median of $5,350 a month with room to spare. It also covers close to full-time home care, about $5,982 a month.
How families pay →
Over $11,000/mo

Nursing care or heavy home-care schedules

Nursing homes in South Carolina run about $9,034 a month at the median. Around-the-clock home care usually costs more.
How families pay →

How to pay for in-home care in South 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.
Paid family caregiving (consumer-directed Medicaid)
Some states let an eligible parent hire a family caregiver through a self-directed Medicaid option. See Can I get paid to care for my parent in South Carolina?

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Long-Term Care Ombudsman

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

Find your local ombudsman

Medicaid programs for care at home

  • Community Choices Waiver. South Carolina 1915(c) Community Choices Waiver for adults 65+ and adults 18–64 with physical disabilities (CMS factsheet).

National helplines

Frequently asked questions

How much does in-home care cost in South Carolina?

About $2,719 a month at 20 hours a week, a common starting schedule. Full-time care at 44 hours a week costs a median of $5,982 a month (estimated range $5,711 to $6,502). Based on 2025 survey data.

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Browse by city in South Carolina

CharlestonColumbiaNorth Charleston

Other care types in South Carolina

Home Health CareAssisted LivingMemory CareIndependent LivingNursing HomesAdult Day CareContinuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)

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