Compare the same services
Match quotes to your room and support needs.
Senior living guides
Florida senior living costs
Compare the full quote and build a budget around your needs.
A useful budget starts with the services you expect to use. Compare written community quotes, keep recurring and one-time charges separate, and confirm what is included before making a decision.
At a glance
Include the extras
Ask about recurring and upfront charges.
Confirm your funding
Check coverage and eligibility directly.
1. Understand what a price includes
A starting price can help you begin a shortlist, but your total depends on the room, services and support you choose. Ask each community for an itemized quote based on the same needs. Write down the quote date and how long it is valid.
Use these questions when comparing care settings:
- Independent living: which housing, meals, maintenance and transport services are included?
- Assisted living: how is personal support assessed and priced?
- Memory care: which supervision, programs and care services are covered by the quote?
- Nursing care: what type and duration of care does the quoted rate cover?
These questions help organize a comparison. They do not establish which level of care is appropriate for an individual.
2. Ask for the charges in writing
Your quote comparison
| Charge | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Housing or base fee | Which room, utilities, meals and services are included? |
| Care and support | Is the charge fixed, tiered or based on particular services? |
| Other recurring fees | Are medication services, transport or supplies billed separately? |
| One-time payments | Are there deposits, entrance fees or move-in charges? |
| Refund and notice terms | What happens when services change or you move out? |
| Future increases | When can charges change, and how will you be notified? |
Keep the written quote and agreement together. Ask for explanations of unfamiliar terms and confirm any important verbal promises in writing.
3. Add up your own estimate
Your budget worksheet
Enter figures from your own quotes. This adds your inputs; it does not predict a community’s price.
Enter amounts from $0 to $1,000,000,000, with no more than two decimal places.
Estimated monthly total
First year including one-time payments
Assumes the entered monthly charges stay the same for 12 months. Excludes charges you have not entered. Figures stay in this page and are not submitted or saved.
Explore communities for current quotes →4. Check payment resources directly
Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care. Coverage for qualifying skilled services follows different rules. Verify a specific service with Medicare or your plan before relying on coverage.
Long-term care insurance benefits and exclusions vary by policy. Review the covered settings, benefit amounts and waiting periods with your insurer. Florida’s Department of Financial Services provides consumer information about these policies.
Florida’s SHINE program provides free, unbiased insurance counseling for older adults, caregivers and families. Use the Department of Elder Affairs’ contact resources to find help.
For Medicaid or other assistance, confirm eligibility, covered services and participating providers with the responsible program. This page does not determine eligibility or promise coverage.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Long-term care ; Florida Department of Financial Services: Long-term care overview ; Florida Department of Elder Affairs: Contact us and SHINE
5. Review your plan before committing
Look beyond the first month. Discuss how a change in room or support needs could affect the budget. Consider getting independent financial or legal advice for a substantial entrance fee, complex agreement or benefits question.
6. Frequently asked questions
Why not compare only the starting price?
A starting price may describe a different room or service package. Ask for a written quote based on your own needs so you can compare like with like.
Does the worksheet tell me what I can afford?
No. It adds the amounts you enter and shows a first-year total under the stated assumptions. It does not assess your finances, forecast price increases or determine benefits.
Where can I find actual community prices?
Our community pages show listed starting prices when available. Contact a shortlisted community to confirm its current rate, availability and the services included in your quote.
Sources and review note
Content checked September 28, 2026. General planning information; confirm current services and terms with the provider.
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