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ElderCareCosts
Updated August 2026

Cost of In-Home Care in South Dakota

In-home care in South Dakota runs about $3,835 a month at 20 hours a week, a common starting schedule. Full-time care at 44 hours a week runs $8,437 a month, above the national median.

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

Starting tier, South Dakota

$3,835/mo

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

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

$8,437/mo

Estimated range $8,054 – $9,170

● South Dakota $8,437 at 44 hrs/wk ○ National median $6,769 at 44 hrs/wk

Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025

City, state, and national

Each area's median compared with the national figure.

In-Home Care cost by area (2025)
AreaScaleMedianvs national
Sioux Falls$8,511/mo+25.7%
South Dakota (state median)$8,437/mo+24.7%
United States$6,769/moreference

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

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

In-Home Care cost trend in South Dakota
2024: $7,497/mo; 2025: $8,437/mo$7k$9k$10k$7,4972024$8,4372025

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South Dakota

$3,835/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 Dakota.

Under $2,500/mo

Adult day, family care, or affordable senior housing

Adult day care and help from family are the usual options at this budget. 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.
$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 $8,437 a month. The local assisted living median is $4,900 a month, and smaller homes often charge less. If Medicaid may apply, ask about waiver programs.
$7,000 – $11,000/mo

Assisted living with room to spare

Covers the South Dakota assisted living median of $4,900 a month with room to spare. It also covers close to full-time home care, about $8,437 a month.
Over $11,000/mo

Nursing care or heavy home-care schedules

Nursing homes in South Dakota run about $9,444 a month at the median. Around-the-clock home care usually costs more.

How to pay for in-home care in South Dakota

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 Dakota?

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Long-Term Care Ombudsman

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

Find your local ombudsman

Medicaid programs for care at home

National helplines

Frequently asked questions

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

About $3,835 a month at 20 hours a week, a common starting schedule. Full-time care at 44 hours a week costs a median of $8,437 a month (estimated range $8,054 to $9,170). Based on 2025 survey data.

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