Last verified: October 2026
How much does assisted living cost in Baltimore in 2026?
The only published survey benchmark is CareScout's 2025 Maryland median of $7,173 a month ($86,070 a year, $236 a day) for a private one-bedroom; CareScout does not publish a Baltimore-only figure.
The national median in the same survey is $6,200 a month, so Maryland runs well above the U.S. figure. A second, local signal exists: assisted living programs report their daily rates to the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC). Across the Baltimore metro, 203 programs report a starting private-room or apartment rate, with a midpoint of $166 a day. Those are self-reported list prices, not audited medians, and they exclude most care-level charges.
What do Baltimore-area programs report to MHCC, county by county?
The table summarizes the lowest daily rate each program reported. Larger programs (30+ beds) are shown separately because they report more consistently.
| Jurisdiction | Programs reporting | Median starting rate/day | Median, 30+ bed programs | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City | 31 | $100 | $162 | $34–$234 |
| Baltimore County | 57 | $143 | $171 | $3–$398 |
| Anne Arundel County | 45 | $202 | $201 | $63–$337 |
| Howard County | 20 | $176 | $186 | $82–$331 |
| Harford County | 23 | $180 | $210 | $100–$315 |
| Carroll County | 24 | $182 | $203 | $113–$294 |
| Queen Anne's County | 3 | $209 | $209 | $177–$218 |
Source: MHCC Consumer Guide to Long Term Care (program-reported rates)
Are small group homes in Baltimore cheaper than large communities?
Usually, by the reported numbers: homes under 10 beds that report rates have a median starting rate of $92 a day, against $188 for programs with 50 or more beds.
Small homes often quote one all-inclusive monthly figure, while larger communities quote a base rent plus a care-level fee set by an assessment, so the base rate understates what a resident with Level 3 needs will pay. Ask every program for the Maryland Uniform Disclosure Statement, which must set out fees, and for the assessment tool that decides the care level.
What does memory care cost in Baltimore?
No published median exists for memory care -- CareScout does not survey it as a separate category, in Maryland or anywhere.
An approved Alzheimer's Special Care Unit must state its fee structure in the written description OHCQ approves, so that document is the place to get a real number. Expect a secured unit to price above the same program's assisted living rate.
What pays for assisted living in Maryland besides savings?
Four public sources can help: the Medicaid Community Options Waiver (services, not room and board), the Senior Assisted Living Subsidy through the local aging office, VA Aid and Attendance for eligible veterans and surviving spouses, and long-term care insurance.
See the waiver, the subsidy and VA rates.
Is the CareScout median what a Baltimore family will pay?
Not necessarily -- it is a statewide midpoint, not a quote.
| CareScout Maryland median | MHCC-reported program rates |
|---|---|
| Survey of providers statewide, one number | Each program's own list price, by program |
| $7,173/month, private one-bedroom | Daily rates, often excluding care fees |
| Published annually | Updated whenever a program edits its profile |
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (released March 2, 2026)
