Updated September 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
Sydney aged care provider cost in 2026 (typical costs and government-set fees): home care package $10,732–$78,106, respite care $66.80–$400, residential aged care $25,000–$100,000 and dementia care $25,000–$100,000.
What aged care costs in 2026 across Support at Home, respite, residential care and dementia care, separating the government-set fees everyone pays from the means-tested and private components.
Government-set aged care fees are the same in Sydney as nationally; what varies by location is the accommodation price (RAD) of individual homes and private full-fee rates, which providers publish on My Aged Care.
Quick answerSydney aged care provider cost in 2026 (typical costs and government-set fees): home care package $10,732–$78,106, respite care $66.80–$400, residential aged care $25,000–$100,000 and dementia care $25,000–$100,000. Get free Sydney quotes →
Detailed Pricing — Sydney 2026
Tier
Typical cost or government-set fee
Basis
Support at Home, annual funding by classification (8 levels)
$10,732–$78,106 per year
Per year
Residential basic daily fee (all residents, from 20 Mar 2026)
$66.80 per day
Per day
Residential respite, basic daily fee plus optional extra services
$66.80–$400 per day
Per day
Residential accommodation deposit (RAD), typical city range
$450,000–$600,000
Refundable lump sum
Residential care, total annual cost, full pensioner to self-funded
$25,000–$100,000 per year
Per year
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Prices verified September 2026 · Cross-referenced against 90+ Australian trade pricing sources · See methodology
What moves the cost
Assessed care level: Support at Home classification sets annual funding from about $10,732 to $78,106
Means testing: income and assets determine your contribution toward care and accommodation
RAD versus DAP: paying the room as a refundable lump sum or as a daily payment at the MPIR
Time of day and day of week for private in-home and respite hours
Extra-service and additional-service fees a home charges above the basic daily fee
Support at Home or residential care?
Support at Home suits people who can remain safely at home with visiting support; there is no basic daily fee and no accommodation cost, so out-of-pocket is usually lower for similar needs.
Residential care is the pathway when 24-hour care or dementia-specific accommodation is needed; the costs above apply and are means tested.
Start with a My Aged Care assessment: it is the mandatory entry point for subsidised care
2
Get the Services Australia means assessment before signing an accommodation agreement
3
Fees change on 20 March and 20 September each year: check the current schedule before comparing quotes
This guide is general information, not advice. Figures are typical ranges compiled from published Australian sources in 2026 and are not a quote; confirm fees with the provider before engaging them. This page is general information, not advice on means testing, refundable accommodation deposits versus daily payments, pension impact or asset structuring; My Aged Care and an aged-care financial adviser can help with those. Government-set fees are current at the schedule date and fees are revised on 20 March and 20 September each year. Private, full-fee rates are shown separately from subsidised figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the aged care basic daily fee?
$66.80 a day from 20 March 2026 for permanent residential and residential respite care, set at 85% of the single basic age pension. Home care no longer has a basic daily fee.
How much does a home care package cost?
Under Support at Home, government funding runs from about $10,732 to $78,106 a year across eight classifications. You contribute a percentage of specific services based on means testing.
What is a RAD?
A refundable accommodation deposit for a residential room, averaging about $450,000-$600,000 in major cities. It can be paid as a daily accommodation payment instead, calculated at the MPIR of 8.43%.
How much does residential aged care cost per year?
Roughly $25,000 a year for a full pensioner to $100,000 or more for a self-funded retiree, depending on care fees and accommodation.
How much does respite care cost?
Residential respite charges the $66.80 basic daily fee plus any extra services. Private in-home respite commonly runs $160 to $400 a day, or $300 to $800 overnight.
Where do I check what I will pay?
The My Aged Care fee estimator and a Services Australia means assessment. An aged-care financial adviser can model RAD versus DAP for your situation.