Work out what aged care could cost your family, before the big conversations
When a parent needs to move into an aged care home, the money questions arrive all at once. How much is the room? Should it be a lump sum, a daily payment or a bit of both? What happens to the house, and to the pension?
Aged Care Costs helps you get a first estimate, in plain English, so you can understand the options and walk into your meetings with the facts already gathered.
- Built on official sources
- Each estimate shows the date its rates apply from.
- Aged Care Costs gives general information only.
How it works
Enter the details you have.
Your parent's age, income, savings, the family home and the room price you've been quoted. If you don't know something yet, you can come back to it.
See your figures.
Our calculator uses the government's published rates and rules to estimate the fees, based on the details you enter. Each estimate shows the date its rates apply from.
Take it further if you need to.
A paid report sets out the numbers in writing, with the rules explained in plain English, ready to share with family or take to a licensed adviser.
What you can get
Free estimate
A free estimate of the fees, shown on one page.
Report
A$99.00 AUDincluding GST
A written report of your figures, each part of the fees explained, and a guided walkthrough.
The step before you see an adviser
We explain how the rules work and show the numbers side by side. We don't tell you which option to choose, and we don't hold a financial services licence.
What we do is help you gather the information an adviser or Services Australia will ask for, so your first meeting starts with the facts in hand rather than a pile of paperwork.
Free help first
Before you pay for advice, these free government services can talk you through aged care costs and options.
Financial Information Service (FIS)
From Services Australia
Free, confidential information about money matters, including retirement and the costs of aged care. FIS officers explain how things work; they don't give financial advice or sell products.
Call 132 300. When you're asked what the call is about, say "Financial Information Service". If your parent already gets a Centrelink payment, call that payment's usual number instead. An officer may set up a video chat or a meeting at a service centre.
Aged Care Specialist Officers (ACSOs)
My Aged Care face-to-face help, at Services Australia
Free appointments to go through the kinds of aged care, money questions about care, getting an assessment and local support. Meet in person at some service centres, or by video chat, which needs a myGov account.
To book, ring 1800 227 475 (the Services Australia Aged Care line) or ask at a service centre. You, a family member or a nominee can make the booking.
My Aged Care
The government's aged care phone line and website
The place to start for aged care services, assessments and questions about fees.
Phone numbers are as each service listed them on 29 October 2026, and may change. These services aren't connected with Aged Care Costs.
Built on official sources
Our rates and rules come from government sources, including My Aged Care, Services Australia and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. We explain them in our own words, and we update our rates when the government changes them.
Questions?
Read our frequently asked questions, or use our Contact us page.
Aged Care Costs gives general information only. It isn't financial advice and doesn't take into account your family's goals, needs or full situation. Your parent's actual fees are set by Services Australia (or DVA) and by the agreements with the aged care home. Before making decisions, consider speaking with a licensed financial adviser who specialises in aged care. See our Disclaimer.