Cost of Senior Living in Canada (2026)
Average monthly pricing data from 4,604 communities across Canada.
National Average
$2,823 – $5,522/mo
Provinces Covered
10
Care Types
9
Average Cost by Care Type
Monthly pricing ranges based on care level.
Adult Day Programs
$3,399 – $6,646/mo
94 communities
Palliative Care
$3,460 – $6,472/mo
452 communities
Memory Care
$3,598 – $6,407/mo
893 communities
Home Care
$3,212 – $6,229/mo
367 communities
Respite Care
$3,256 – $6,153/mo
881 communities
Nursing Homes
$3,000 – $5,925/mo
916 communities
Assisted Living
$2,801 – $5,423/mo
903 communities
Retirement Residences
$2,600 – $5,124/mo
295 communities
Independent Living
$2,582 – $5,101/mo
1103 communities
Cost by Province
Sorted from most to least expensive by average high.
| Province | Avg Low | Avg High | Median | Communities | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $3,396 | $6,547 | $3,219 – $6,548 | 518 | |
| Ontario | $3,116 | $6,111 | $2,941 – $6,153 | 1029 | |
| Alberta | $2,881 | $5,708 | $2,814 – $5,950 | 257 | |
| Prince Edward Island | $2,940 | $4,952 | $3,009 – $4,900 | 19 | |
| Saskatchewan | $2,142 | $4,673 | $1,983 – $4,782 | 85 | |
| Nova Scotia | $2,181 | $4,143 | $2,104 – $3,811 | 91 | |
| Manitoba | $1,805 | $3,897 | $1,777 – $3,950 | 65 | |
| Quebec | $2,011 | $3,860 | $1,931 – $3,956 | 407 | |
| New Brunswick | $1,872 | $3,785 | $1,791 – $3,770 | 62 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $1,644 | $3,139 | $1,595 – $3,106 | 36 |
Provincial Breakdown
How senior living costs stack up against disposable income across Canadian provinces. Disposable income accounts for median household earnings, provincial tax rates, and regional cost of living.
Monthly Senior Living Cost vs. Disposable Income
% of Disposable Income Spent on Senior Care
Sorted most affordable → least affordable. Bars turn orange above 15%.
Disposable income = median household income × (1 − effective tax rate) ÷ 12. Effective tax rates include federal + provincial income tax and CPP/EI payroll contributions. Sources: Statistics Canada (2023 median incomes), CRA (tax rates), Numbeo/StatsCan (COLI).
How Canada Compares to the US
Historical cost trends by care type (2019–2026). Canadian estimates from CMHC and industry reports, with the 2026 data point from SeniorHome.ca. US medians from the annual Genworth / CareScout Cost of Care Survey, converted to CAD using Bank of Canada exchange rates.
Independent Living
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Nursing Homes
Home Care
Note: Canadian 2019–2024 figures are industry estimates from CMHC, Comfort Life, and provincial sources. The 2026 Canada value reflects current SeniorHome.ca weighted averages. US 2025–2026 values are projected at ~5% annual growth. Differences in methodology, public subsidies, and regulatory environments mean direct comparisons should be interpreted with caution.
Affordability Ranking
Senior living cost as a percentage of after-tax disposable income — accounts for effective tax rates, regional earnings, cost of living, and cross-border purchasing power. Each country’s costs and incomes are in local currency (CAD or USD), with a PPP adjustment so the percentages are directly comparable.
Higher % = less affordable. Formula: (monthly cost × 12) ÷ disposable income × 100, where disposable income = median income × (1 − effective tax rate) × (100 / effective COLI). Effective tax rates include federal + provincial/state income tax plus payroll contributions (CPP/EI in Canada, FICA in the US). Cross-border PPP factor (OECD 2023: 1 USD = 1.21 CAD) scales Canadian COLI down by ~11%, reflecting that the Canadian dollar buys more domestically than the exchange rate suggests. Sources: Statistics Canada, US Census Bureau, BEA Regional Price Parities, CRA, IRS, OECD PPP.
City Spotlight
How each city’s average high compares to the national average. Orange bars extend right for above-average cities, teal bars extend left for below-average (minimum 3 communities with published pricing).
Most Expensive Cities
Our Data vs. Industry Sources
How SeniorHome.ca data compares to published benchmarks from Genworth/CareScout, NIC MAP, Comfort Life, and government LTC co-payment schedules. US figures converted to CAD at the 2024 Bank of Canada average rate ($1 USD = $1.365 CAD).
Monthly Cost by Care Type
SeniorHome.ca averages alongside US medians (Genworth, NIC) and Canadian estimates (Comfort Life). Ontario LTC shown for nursing homes as the government co-payment baseline.
Note: US sources report median costs; SeniorHome.ca reports weighted averages across all listed communities. Comfort Life figures are Ontario-focused midpoints. Ontario LTC is the government-set semi-private co-payment (room & board only, care funded separately). Gaps indicate the source does not track that care type.
Provincial Costs: SeniorHome.ca vs. CMHC & LTC Co-Payments
Our current averages compared to the last CMHC Seniors’ Housing Survey (2021, now discontinued) and provincial government long-term care co-payment rates (2024).
CMHC figures are from the 2021 Seniors’ Housing Survey (the last edition before discontinuation) and cover standard private-market spaces. LTC co-payments are the midpoint of published government rate ranges for 2024 — these cover accommodation only, with clinical care funded by the province. SeniorHome.ca data includes all care types and pricing tiers.
Industry References
External sources used to validate and contextualize our data.
Genworth / CareScout
Cost of Care Survey (2024)↗US median assisted living $5,900/mo; nursing home (semi-private) $9,277/mo.
CMHC
Seniors' Housing Survey (2023)↗National vacancy rates and average rents for private seniors' residences across Canada.
Comfort Life
Retirement Home Costs in Canada (2024)↗Canadian retirement homes typically range from $1,600–$3,075/mo depending on level of care.
NIC (National Investment Center)
Seniors Housing Fundamentals (2024)↗US seniors housing occupancy recovered to ~87%, with operating costs rising 4–6% year-over-year.
Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care
Long-Term Care Co-Payment Rates (2024)↗Ontario LTC basic accommodation co-payment approximately $1,945/mo (2024 rate).
CIHI
Long-Term Care Quality Indicators (2024)↗National long-term care utilization, quality indicators, and spending trends across provinces.
Statistics Canada
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities Survey (2023)↗Comprehensive data on nursing and residential care capacity, staffing, and expenditure.
Cite This Report
SeniorHome.ca. “Cost of Senior Living in Canada (2026).” SeniorHome.ca, 2026. https://seniorhome.ca/cost-of-senior-living
Data aggregated from 4,604 communities. Updated daily. Free to cite with attribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does assisted living cost in Canada?
Assisted living in Canada typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000 per month depending on the province, city, and level of care required. Prices are generally higher in major urban centres like Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.
Is senior living covered by provincial health insurance?
Long-term care (nursing homes) is partially subsidized by provincial health programs, though residents pay a co-payment for accommodation. Assisted living and retirement residences are mostly private-pay, but some provinces offer subsidies for qualifying low-income seniors.
What is the cheapest province for senior living?
Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland) and Manitoba tend to have lower senior living costs than Ontario and British Columbia. However, availability and wait times vary significantly by region.
What financial assistance is available for senior care?
Federal programs include Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Most provinces offer additional programs such as Ontario's Long-Term Care subsidy, BC's subsidized assisted living, Alberta's Seniors Financial Assistance, and Quebec's tax credit for home support services.
Why do senior living costs vary so much between cities?
Costs are influenced by local real estate values, staffing costs, regulatory requirements, and demand. Cities with higher costs of living generally have more expensive senior care. Rural areas may be cheaper but can have fewer options and longer wait times.
Does the type of care affect the price?
Yes. Independent living is typically the most affordable, while memory care and nursing homes are more expensive due to specialized staff, security features, and 24/7 medical supervision. Home care costs depend on the number of hours of service required.
How is this data collected?
Our pricing data is aggregated from publicly listed rates across thousands of senior living communities in the SeniorHome.ca directory. We update this data regularly and calculate averages and medians by province, city, and care type.
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