Any form of retirement requires a good deal of financial planning. Considering where to retire is an important part of this strategy since costs of living vary widely by area. Seniors looking at a retirement that includes assisted care need to consider their location even more. Recent data show dramatic differences in assisted living costs depending on where you settle down.
According to a report published earlier this year by insurer Genworth Financial, the national average for a year in an assisted living facility is around $44,000. But that figure can almost double in some regions – and fall by nearly a third in others.
At least 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need some form of long-term care during their lives, according to estimates. Single seniors, without partners to rely on, and younger adults who are arranging care for parents tend to be particularly hard-hit financially.
So which states will set you back on assisted living costs, and which are relative bargains?
The Most Expensive States for Assisted Living
These are the five most expensive states for the median annual cost of a private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted living community, according to Genworth:
Washington, D.C. – $80,400
Alaska – $69,000
Massachusetts – $65,550
Delaware – $64,416
Maine – $59,892
As you can see, the cost of assisted living in the District of Columbia is almost twice the national average. While most of these states are on the East Coast, Alaska is an outlier. Proportionately, the Frontier State also has astronomically high costs for other forms of senior care, such as nursing homes.
The Cheapest States for Assisted Living
On the other hand, assisted living costs in the Southeast tend to be considerably lower than the national average. Again, these are the median annual costs of a private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted living community:
Missouri – $30,483
Assisted living in the Show Me State costs $50,000 less than in D.C., and $35,000 less than in Massachusetts. That amounts to serious savings over the course of retirement years in which you need assistive care.
Oklahoma – $33,630
Georgia – $34,200
Alabama – $34,800
Utah – $35,400
Consider Inflation in Assisted Living, Too
When planning for assisted living costs, take the long view on inflation as well. The average national cost of assisted living grew 0.78% from 2015 to 2016, according to Genworth. Over five years, the average cost grew 2.16%.
It can be difficult to forecast an entire financial plan for senior care. Retirees should take special care to consider location and inflation – and perhaps consult a professional adviser to make sure your plan fits your retirement budget.
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Assisted Living Costs in All 50 States
Here’s a state-by-state look at assisted living costs, as reported by Genworth. These numbers are the median costs of a private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility in each state, the District of Columbia and nationally.
| State | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| USA – National | $3,628 | $43,536 |
| Alabama | $2,900 | $34,800 |
| Alaska | $5,750 | $69,000 |
| Arizona | $3,500 | $42,000 |
| Arkansas | $3,133 | $37,596 |
| California | $4,000 | $48,000 |
| Colorado | $4,063 | $48,756 |
| Connecticut | $4,950 | $59,400 |
| Delaware | $5,368 | $64,416 |
| District of Columbia | $6,700 | $80,400 |
| Florida | $3,045 | $36,540 |
| Georgia | $2,850 | $34,200 |
| Hawaii | $4,125 | $49,500 |
| Idaho | $3,200 | $38,400 |
| Illinois | $3,898 | $46,776 |
| Indiana | $3,528 | $42,336 |
| Iowa | $3,518 | $42,216 |
| Kansas | $3,863 | $46,356 |
| Kentucky | $3,300 | $39,600 |
| Louisiana | $3,155 | $37,860 |
| Maine | $4,991 | $59,892 |
| Maryland | $3,750 | $45,000 |
| Massachusetts | $5,463 | $65,556 |
| Michigan | $3,563 | $42,756 |
| Minnesota | $3,200 | $38,400 |
| Mississippi | $3,200 | $38,400 |
| Missouri | $2,537 | $30,444 |
| Montana | $3,513 | $42,156 |
| Nebraska | $3,510 | $42,120 |
| Nevada | $3,050 | $36,600 |
| New Hampshire | $4,800 | $57,600 |
| New Jersey | $4,950 | $59,400 |
| New Mexico | $3,600 | $43,200 |
| New York | $4,136 | $49,632 |
| North Carolina | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| North Dakota | $3,340 | $40,080 |
| Ohio | $3,600 | $43,200 |
| Oklahoma | $2,803 | $33,636 |
| Oregon | $4,065 | $48,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,600 | $43,200 |
| Rhode Island | $4,931 | $59,172 |
| South Carolina | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| South Dakota | $3,370 | $40,440 |
| Tennessee | $3,780 | $45,360 |
| Texas | $3,515 | $42,180 |
| Utah | $2,950 | $35,400 |
| Vermont | $4,860 | $58,320 |
| Virginia | $3,950 | $47,400 |
| Washington | $4,500 | $54,000 |
| West Virginia | $3,263 | $39,156 |
| Wisconsin | $3,934 | $47,208 |
| Wyoming | $3,995 | $47,940 |
Source: Genworth Cost of Care Survey
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This article was originally published on After55.com: The Cheapest and Most Expensive States for Assisted Living
Learn more about assisted living in After55.com’s Assisted Living Guide.