When comparing live-in care vs a care home in London, the weekly fees are often similar: about £1,300–£1,800 for live-in care for one person, and £1,450–£1,750 for a residential care home (2026). The bigger differences are one-to-one support, staying at home, how your house is treated in the means test, and what’s included in the price.
Arranging care in West Sussex instead? Read our guide: Live-in Care vs Care Home: A Cost & Lifestyle Comparison.
At a glance
- As of 2026, London live-in care costs about £1,300–£1,800 a week; residential care homes about £1,450–£1,750; nursing homes about £1,680–£2,000.
- Live-in care gives one-to-one support in your own home; care homes share staff across residents.
- For care at home, your home’s value is ignored in the council means test. In a care home it can count after 12 weeks.
- For couples, one live-in carer often costs much less than two care home places.
- Both are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
How do the costs compare in London?
Here are the typical private prices we recommend quoting, as of 2026. Sources vary, and prices depend on needs, provider and postcode.
| Option | London, per week (2026) | UK, per week (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Live-in care, one person | £1,300–£1,800 | £1,200–£1,700 |
| Live-in care, couple | £1,600–£2,000 | £1,400–£2,200 |
| Live-in care, dementia or complex | £1,600–£2,500+ | £1,600–£2,200+ |
| Residential care home | £1,450–£1,750 | £1,300–£1,420 |
| Nursing home | £1,680–£2,000 | £1,510–£1,640 |
Sources: Which? (using Lottie data, Jan 2026); Lottie Care Index Q1 2026; London provider price lists, 2026.
London care home fees vary widely by area. One 2026 London guide found inner west and south-west London homes at £1,800–£2,200 or more a week, and outer east London homes at £1,200–£1,500.
What each price includes
A care home fee normally includes the room, meals, laundry, heating, lighting and care. You may pay extra for hairdressing, trips or a newspaper.
A live-in care fee covers the carer and the provider’s support. On top, you keep paying your household bills, council tax, food for yourself and the carer, and home maintenance. You also need a spare bedroom for the carer.
So for one person, the true weekly cost of live-in care can be higher than the headline price. For a couple, it is often much lower than two care home places. See live-in care for couples.
How is council funding different?
This is one of the most important differences, and it often surprises families.
Your home in the means test
- Care at home (including live-in care): the value of your main or only home is always disregarded in the financial assessment.
- Care home: when someone moves in permanently, the home’s value is ignored for the first 12 weeks (if other capital is below £23,250). After that it can count, unless a partner, or a relative aged 60 or over or who is incapacitated, still lives there.
If your home counts, the council must offer a deferred payment agreement in many cases. This lets you delay paying fees until the home is sold, with interest and admin charges.
How much income you keep
With home care, the council must leave you with at least the Minimum Income Guarantee: £241.45 a week for a single person over Pension Credit age in 2026/27. In a care home, you keep only the Personal Expenses Allowance of £31.80 a week (DHSC charging circular, 2026/27).
Will the council pay for either?
Both are possible. The council must meet your eligible needs but can consider cost when deciding how. It may fund a care home place at its usual rate, or offer home care instead of live-in care. Age UK notes councils should not set arbitrary budget ceilings that force people into care homes against their will. Read can the council pay for live-in care?
NHS funding
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) pays the full cost of care for people with a primary health need, in either setting.
- NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC), £267.68 a week from April 2026, is paid only to nursing homes. It does not apply to live-in care.
Weighing up live-in care against a care home? Get a free care quote from a CQC-registered London provider. Get a free care quote →
Extra costs to budget for
With live-in care, budget for the carer’s food, a little more on heating, water and electricity, wi-fi, and any equipment or adaptations the home needs. You’ll also carry on paying council tax, insurance and repairs. A live-in carer may be disregarded for council tax, which can protect a single-person discount.
With a care home, ask what the weekly fee excludes. Common extras include hairdressing, chiropody, toiletries, newspapers, trips and some activities. Also ask how often fees rise and by how much, and whether there’s a deposit.
How does quality of care compare?
Quality depends far more on the individual provider than on the type of care. Both live-in care agencies and care homes providing personal care are registered and rated by the CQC as Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Always check the latest report. See CQC ratings explained.
That said, the models are different.
| Live-in care | Care home | |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | One main carer for one person (or a couple) | Staff shared across residents |
| Setting | Your own home, pets, neighbours and routines | New environment, shared spaces |
| Routine | Built around the person | Built around the home’s timetable, with some flexibility |
| Night support | Carer sleeps; night help limited unless extra cover is added | Staff on duty through the night |
| Nursing | Not included unless a nurse is added | On site in a nursing home |
| Social contact | Depends on the carer and outings | Other residents and activities |
| Equipment | Adapt your home (hoists, beds, rails) | Usually already in place |
| Continuity | Carers rotate, often every few weeks | Staff change by shift |
Who is live-in care best suited to?
Live-in care often suits people who:
- strongly want to stay at home, with pets or a garden;
- live with dementia and find new places distressing;
- are one half of a couple who want to stay together;
- need help through the day but sleep most nights;
- have a spare bedroom for the carer.
Who is a care home best suited to?
A care home may be the better choice when someone:
- needs regular help at night, or two staff for moving and handling;
- needs registered nursing care on site (a nursing home);
- is lonely and would benefit from company and activities;
- lives in a home that can’t be adapted or has no room for a carer;
- has family who are exhausted from managing a household.
What about the practical side?
Setting up live-in care
Live-in care can often start quickly, but you’ll need to prepare a private room for the carer, sort wi-fi, and agree house rules. Our guide to preparing your home for a live-in carer has a checklist.
Moving into a care home
Finding a suitable London care home can take time, especially for nursing or dementia care. Families often need to visit several homes and manage a house move.
What about the emotional side of the decision?
Cost is only part of the picture. Families often find the harder questions are about identity, relationships and control.
- Home and belongings. For many older Londoners, their home holds decades of memories, and nearby shops, places of worship and neighbours are part of daily life.
- Couples. If one partner needs care, moving to a care home can mean living apart. Live-in care lets a couple stay together.
- Dementia. A move can be unsettling for someone living with dementia. Familiar surroundings can help, although some people also do well with the structure of a good care home.
- Loneliness. Someone who is isolated at home may enjoy the company and activities of a care home more than one-to-one care.
- Family carers. Managing a household, a live-in carer’s breaks and home maintenance takes effort. A care home can take much of that off your hands.
Most importantly, involve the person who needs care. If they can make the decision, it is theirs to make. If they lack capacity, decisions should be made in their best interests, involving anyone with a health and welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.
Can you try live-in care first?
Yes. Many families arrange a few weeks of live-in care, sometimes as respite or after a hospital stay, to see how it works before committing. For a full overview, see our live-in care in London guide.
Decision checklist
Ask yourself:
- Does the person need help at night more than occasionally?
- Do they need nursing care on site?
- Is there a spare bedroom for a carer?
- How strongly do they want to stay at home?
- Is there a partner who also needs support?
- How will the house be treated if they move to a care home?
- What is the long-term budget for either option?
For a broader comparison including hourly visits, read home care vs care home in London.
Frequently asked questions
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
For one person in London, the weekly fees are similar: live-in care about £1,300–£1,800 and residential care homes about £1,450–£1,750 (2026). Live-in care also means paying household bills and the carer’s food. For couples, live-in care is often much cheaper than two care home places.
Will I have to sell my house to pay for care?
Not for care at home: your home’s value is ignored in the means test. If you move permanently into a care home, the value can count after 12 weeks, unless a partner or certain relatives still live there. A deferred payment agreement can mean you don’t have to sell during your lifetime.
Is live-in care or a nursing home better for someone with complex needs?
It depends on the needs. A nursing home has registered nurses on site around the clock. Live-in care can support many complex needs, sometimes with visiting nurses or extra carers, but costs rise. If needs are mainly health-related, ask for an NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment, which can fund care in either setting.
Can the council fund live-in care instead of a care home?
It can. The council must meet eligible needs and can take cost into account when choosing how. If live-in care costs much more than a care home, the council may offer the cheaper option. Ask for the reasons in writing and request a review if you disagree.
How do I check the quality of a care home or live-in care provider?
Look up the provider on the CQC website to see its latest rating and inspection report. Then ask about staff training, carer matching or staffing levels, how they handle complaints, and speak to other families if possible. Visit care homes in person, ideally at different times of day.
Sources
- Which?: care home fees (Jan 2026)
- Lottie Care Index: care home fees Q1 2026
- Lottie: average care home fees in London (May 2026)
- Lottie: care at home costs (Sep 2026)
- DHSC: Social care charging 2026 to 2027 circular
- DHSC: Care and support statutory guidance
- Independent Age: property disregards and deferred payments
- Age UK: Factsheet 24, personal budgets and direct payments (Nov 2025)
- GOV.UK: NHS-funded Nursing Care rate 2026
- NHS: NHS Continuing Healthcare
- CQC: regulated activities
- Steaz Forte: home care costs in London (Aug 2026)
- Nightingales HomeCare: price list (Apr 2026)
Get a free live-in care quote from a CQC-registered London provider to compare with care home fees. Get a free care quote →
This guide is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.
Free · by email
Free care cost report for your area
- Typical local prices for care homes and nursing homes
- What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
- The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register
Find care homes near you
- Care homes in Lewisham 49
- Care homes in Kingston upon Thames 44
- Care homes in Merton 35
- Care homes in Wandsworth 26
- Care homes in Islington 18
- Care homes in Camden 11
- Care homes in Croydon 129
- Care homes in Sutton 68
All care homes in London by town → · Search by postcode
Highly rated care homes in London
- SignHealth Longley Road Outstanding · Wandsworth
- 13a Repton Drive Good · Romford
- Abbey Ravenscroft Park Nursing Home Good · Barnet
- Alan Morkill House Good · Kensington and Chelsea
Rated by CQC in the last three years. Nobody pays to appear here.
Care costs by council
- Care costs in Worcestershire
- Care costs in Leicestershire
- Care costs in Barnet
- Care costs in Kingston upon Thames
- Care costs in North Tyneside
- Care costs in Rochdale
- Care costs in Milton Keynes
- Care costs in Plymouth
Related guides
Free download
A 40-point checklist for comparing care homes
Print it before visiting: three columns, 40 questions on care, staffing, rooms, costs and the contract.
Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 15 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.