Quick answer
In every province, the government pays for the nursing and personal care in a publicly funded long-term care home; the resident pays for room and meals. In 2026 the most a resident pays for a standard room ranges from about $2,129 a month in Ontario and $2,242 in Quebec (private room) to $3,600 in New Brunswick and $4,143 in British Columbia.
Most provinces lower the charge for residents with low income, so many people pay less than the maximum. Fees for full-time care can also be claimed as a medical expense on the federal return, which returns 14% of the amount above a small threshold.
Long-term care fees in all 10 provinces, 2026
These are the accommodation charges set by each province for publicly funded homes (also called nursing homes, personal care homes, special-care homes or CHSLDs). Where a province sets a daily rate, the monthly figure is the daily rate × 30.4167, the method Ontario uses.
| Province | Most a resident pays | Monthly | Lowest charge | How it is set | In effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $70.00/day basic; $84.40 semi-private; $100.01 private (newer beds) | $2,129 basic; up to $3,042 private | Reduced basic rate on application | Flat rate by room type; low-income residents can apply for a rate reduction | July 1, 2026 |
| Quebec (CHSLD) | $2,242.20/month private room; $1,872.90 two-bed; $1,395.30 three or more beds | $1,395–$2,242 | Set by RAMQ assessment | Maximum by room type; reduced based on income and assets | January 1, 2026 |
| British Columbia | $4,142.60/month | $1,508–$4,143 | $1,507.70/month | 80% of after-tax income, between the minimum and maximum | January 1, 2026 |
| Alberta | $71.85/day shared room; $83.05 private room | $2,185 shared; $2,526 private | — | Set charge by room type in type A and B continuing care homes (not income-tested) | August 1, 2026 |
| Saskatchewan | $3,547/month plus $26.75 supply charge | $1,423–$3,547 | $1,423/month | $1,423 plus 57.5% of monthly income above $1,925 | October 1, 2026 |
| Manitoba | $107.40/day | $1,351–$3,267 | $44.40/day | Based on net income minus tax on the 2025 notice of assessment | August 1, 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | $114.00/day nursing home; $68.00 residential care facility | $3,468 nursing home; $2,068 residential care | Resident keeps at least $366/month | Maximum charge; lower after an income assessment | March 1, 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $118.65/day | About $3,609 | Income-based | Maximum charge; lower after a financial assessment; residents keep a $150 monthly allowance | 2026 |
| Prince Edward Island | $116.96/day (public homes) | About $3,558 | Subsidy for low income | Long-Term Care Subsidy Program pays part for eligible residents; private homes set their own rates | September 1, 2025 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $2,990/month | Up to $2,990 | Resident keeps at least $150/month | Income test only (savings and investments are not counted) | Current schedule |
Rates change each year on different dates; the "In effect" column shows the date of the rate used. Ontario's preferred-room rates depend on when the resident was admitted and the age of the bed; the figures above are for newer beds since July 2015. Quebec's maximum applies when income or assets are above RAMQ's thresholds. Prince Edward Island's figure is the rate for public homes, last changed September 1, 2025.
What you actually pay depends on income
Only Ontario and Alberta set mostly flat charges. In the other provinces, the charge is calculated from the resident's income, so two people in the same home can pay very different amounts.
- British Columbia: a single resident with $3,000 a month after tax pays 80% of it, $2,400. Someone with $6,000 a month pays the $4,142.60 maximum.
- Saskatchewan: with $3,000 a month of income, the charge is $1,423 + 57.5% × ($3,000 − $1,925) = about $2,041, plus the $26.75 supply charge.
- Manitoba and Nova Scotia: the charge rises with net income up to the maximum; Nova Scotia leaves the resident at least $366 a month or 15% of income, whichever is higher.
- Quebec: RAMQ looks at income and assets. People with assets above its thresholds pay the full maximum for their room type.
- Ontario: the basic rate is the same for everyone, but residents who cannot afford it can apply each year for a rate reduction (applications for the 2026–27 cycle opened July 1, 2026).
Spouses who stay at home are protected in most provinces: income can be split or an allowance is set aside so the spouse in the community keeps enough to live on.
Long-term care vs a retirement home
The two are often confused, and the price difference is large.
- Long-term care home (nursing home): 24-hour nursing and personal care for people who can no longer live safely at home. Care is publicly funded and residents pay only the charges above. Admission goes through the provincial health system (in Ontario, Ontario Health atHome), and there is often a waiting list.
- Retirement home (seniors' residence, assisted living): private housing with meals and optional services. Prices are set by the operator, are not covered by provincial health plans, and are usually higher than long-term care fees, especially once extra care is added. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation stopped collecting seniors' residence rents after 2021, so there is no current official average.
Some provinces also subsidize assisted living. In BC, for example, publicly subsidized assisted living costs 70% of after-tax income, with a minimum of $1,253.80 a month in 2026.
Federal tax credits that reduce the cost (2026)
Federal non-refundable credits are worth 14% of the amount in 2026, the lowest federal tax rate. Provinces add their own credits on top.
| Credit | 2026 amount | Worth up to (federal) | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical expense tax credit | Expenses above $2,890 or 3% of net income, whichever is less | 14% of eligible expenses | Full-time care fees in a nursing home or attendant care, for someone who qualifies for the disability tax credit or is certified as dependent on others |
| Disability tax credit | $10,341 | About $1,448 | Severe and prolonged impairment certified on Form T2201. Not available in the same year as claiming full-time nursing home fees as a medical expense |
| Canada caregiver amount (dependant 18+) | $8,773 (reduced when the dependant's net income is above $20,601) | About $1,228 | Supporting an infirm parent, grandparent or other relative |
| Age amount | $9,208 (reduced above $46,432 of net income) | About $1,289 | Anyone 65 or older |
| Home Accessibility Tax Credit | Up to $20,000 of renovation costs | $2,800 | Grab bars, walk-in showers, ramps, stair lifts in the home of someone 65+ or eligible for the disability tax credit |
| Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit | Up to $50,000 of renovation costs | $7,000 (14%, refundable) | Building a secondary suite so a senior or adult with a disability can live with a relative |
2026 amounts from the CRA's indexation table. Both renovation credits follow the lowest federal rate: 15% until 2024, 14.5% in 2025 and 14% in 2026. Budget 2025 proposed that, from 2026, an expense claimed as a medical expense can no longer also be claimed under the Home Accessibility Tax Credit; see home renovation credits for seniors.
Provincial examples: Ontario's Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit refunds 25% of up to $6,000 of medical expenses for people 70 or older (up to $1,500, reduced above about $35,000 of family net income). British Columbia's Seniors' Home Renovation Tax Credit refunds 10% of up to $10,000 of accessibility renovations for people 65 or older. Quebec has a refundable tax credit for home-support services for seniors 70 and older.
Example: a parent paying the full Ontario rate
A parent in a basic Ontario long-term care room pays $2,129.17 a month, or about $25,550 a year. If they qualify (disability tax credit or a doctor's certificate that they depend on others), the fees count as a medical expense. With $30,000 of net income, the threshold is $900 (3%), so about $24,650 is eligible and the federal credit is about $3,450, before Ontario's own medical expense credit. Their actual tax payable limits how much of a non-refundable credit they can use.