Senior Health & Wellness
Home care in Florida costs $22 to $42 an hour. Your rate depends on your county and the level of care you need. South Florida runs highest, especially Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, which works out to roughly $2,000 to $7,500 a month for most families. You’ll find a full breakdown below by care type, county, and real monthly scenarios, so you can see where your situation is likely to land before you call a single agency.
Home Care Costs in Florida in 2026, by the Hour
Florida’s statewide median hourly rate for non-medical home care lands around $29 to $31 an hour. That’s slightly above the national personal-care average of about $30 an hour. A large senior population and strong demand in South Florida drive the higher rates. Rates also differ by the level of care involved. Basic companionship and light housekeeping sit at the low end. Dementia care, mobility assistance, and other hands-on personal care push rates higher.
| Care Type | Statewide Hourly Range | Palm Beach / Broward / Miami-Dade |
| Companion care | $22–$32/hr | $26–$34/hr |
| Personal care / home health aide | $25–$35/hr | $28–$38/hr |
| Specialized / dementia care | $30–$40/hr | $32–$42/hr |
| 24-hour / live-in care | $250–$350/day | $4,500–$7,500/mo |
South Florida is consistently the most expensive region in the state. Miami-Dade tends to run highest, with Broward and Palm Beach close behind. North and Central Florida counties can run $8 to $10 an hour lower for the same level of care.
What a Monthly Care Plan Actually Costs
Hourly rates only tell part of the story. Most families aren’t paying for a single hour, they’re paying for a recurring schedule. Here’s what that looks like in practice for a Palm Beach or Broward County household, using the mid-range hourly rates above:
| Care Schedule | Estimated Monthly Cost* |
| Mornings only, 3 days/week (12 hrs/week) — bathing, dressing, breakfast | $1,350 – $1,750 |
| Daily oversight, 4 hrs/day (28 hrs/week) — early-stage dementia support | $3,150 – $4,100 |
| Full-time daytime, 40 hrs/week — recovery or mobility support | $4,500 – $5,900 |
| 24-hour live-in care | $4,500 – $7,500 |
*Estimates based on current South Florida agency rates for a typical care plan; your actual cost depends on the caregiver’s experience level, schedule, and specific tasks involved.
Why Home Care Costs Vary So Much
A handful of factors explain most of the spread between a $1,500 monthly bill and a $7,000 one:
- Hours per week — a few mornings of help costs a fraction of daily oversight or round-the-clock care.
- Level of care — companionship and light housekeeping cost the least. Dementia and post-surgical support cost the most.
- Live-in vs. hourly — agencies usually bill 24-hour live-in care as a flat daily or weekly rate, not hour by hour. That often costs less than round-the-clock hourly coverage.
- Agency vs. independent caregiver — independent, privately hired caregivers often charge 20 to 30 percent less per hour than an agency.
- Region — South Florida’s cost of living, dense senior population, and competitive caregiver market keep rates well above North and Central Florida.
Agency Care vs. a Private Caregiver: What the Lower Price Doesn’t Include
An independent caregiver’s lower hourly rate is real. But it doesn’t include the infrastructure an agency provides. That means background-checked and trained staff, plus a backup caregiver when someone calls out sick. It also means workers’ compensation coverage and a clinical team that can step in if something goes wrong mid-shift. City Choice hires only about 1 in 25 applicants who apply. Families trust us with a parent, spouse, or child, so we vet accordingly. You’re paying the agency rate for that vetting and backup coverage, not just the hours themselves.
Ways to Lower the Cost of Home Care in Florida
Out-of-pocket private pay is the most common way Florida families cover home care, but it’s rarely the only option:
- Medicare — Part A and Part B cover skilled nursing, therapy, and limited home health aide visits at no cost for eligible, homebound patients. This differs from long-term custodial home care. It can offset costs significantly after a hospital stay or during an ongoing medical condition.
- Medicaid’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care program funds home-based care for eligible low-income seniors. Waitlists exist in most regions, so apply early.
- Long-term care insurance — many policies cover home care once you meet a benefit trigger. Waiting periods of 30 to 90 days are common, so check your policy’s terms before you need it.
- VA Aid & Attendance — a monthly benefit for eligible veterans and surviving spouses that can be applied toward in-home care costs.
- A hybrid approach — using professional care for medical or higher-risk tasks while family members or volunteers cover companionship and basic errands.
City Choice works with Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and most major long-term care insurance carriers, including Genworth, John Hancock, Mutual of Omaha, and Lincoln. Our intake team can walk you through what’s actually covered before you commit to a plan.
Get a Cost Estimate Built Around Your Situation
National and statewide averages are a useful starting point. But they can’t tell you what your own mother’s three-mornings-a-week schedule will cost. They also can’t tell you whether your father’s Medicare coverage will absorb most of his post-hospital care. That’s the gap our Cost Estimator tool and free consultations are built to close.
Sources
A Place for Mom 2026 Cost of Long-Term Care Report; Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey; Senioridy 2026 Florida In-Home Care Cost Guide; Caring.com Florida Home Health Care Cost Data. Figures are regional estimates for planning purposes; actual rates vary by agency, schedule, and care plan.