Updated September 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
Australian 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.
Typical Aged Care Provider cost by city — What’s The Damage’s September 2026 re-verification across 90+ sources. Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025 with eight funding levels and service-based contributions instead of a basic daily fee. The residential basic daily fee is $66.80 a day from 20 March 2026, the MPIR used for daily accommodation payments is 8.43% from 1 July 2026, and average RADs in major cities sit around $450,000-$600,000.
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.
Quick answerAustralian 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 quotes →
Detailed Pricing — Australia 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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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.
How to keep the cost sane
1
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.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, marketplaces, peak industry body data, and individual provider websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences based on advertised rates, salary data, and cost-of-living indicators. Our price guides are produced independently. Pricing is compiled from public quotes, industry rate guides, and marketplace data, and no provider can influence a published figure. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get multiple quotes. Last reviewed September 2026. Read our full methodology →