Long-term care costs in Singapore depend on where care happens. Before subsidies, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) lists home personal care from S$25 an hour, day care from $55 a session and nursing homes from $3,900 a month. From 1 July 2026, means-tested subsidies for home and day care go up to 95%, higher than for nursing homes.
Our nursing home cost explainer covers residential care in depth. This guide sets home care and day care beside it, because many families use them first, and for longer.
Long-Term Care Costs in Singapore by Setting
AIC publishes starting prices before government subsidies:
| Service | What it is | From, before subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Home personal care | Help with bathing, dressing and daily tasks at home | $25 an hour |
| Home nursing | Nursing visits for someone who is housebound | $62 a visit |
| Home medical | Doctor’s visits for someone who cannot leave home | $176 a visit |
| Day care | Supervised care, meals, exercise and activities on weekdays | $55 a session |
| Dementia day care | Day care with activities for people with dementia | $63 a session |
| Nursing home | 24-hour residential care | $3,900 a month |
These are floors, not averages. Fees vary by provider and care needs.
MOH’s own illustration for 2026 puts typical costs for a person with severe disability at about $2,700 a month for care in the community and $4,900 a month for a nursing home, before support.
The Subsidy Frameworks From July 2026
MOH sets two subsidy tables, both means-tested on per capita household income (PCHI): total household income divided by the number of people in it. Households with no income are assessed on the home’s Annual Value, with $21,000 as the cut-off.
Home and day care (non-residential). MOH’s table, effective 1 July 2026, covers services such as home nursing, home personal care, day care and dementia day care.
| PCHI | Citizen born 1969 or earlier | Citizen born after 1969 | Permanent Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| $900 and below | 95% | 80% | 55% |
| $2,601 to $3,600 | 55% | 40% | 20% |
| $3,601 to $4,800 | 35% | 20% | 10% |
| Above $4,800 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Nursing homes (residential). MOH’s residential table gives up to 80% for citizens born in 1969 or earlier, 75% for younger citizens and 50% for Permanent Residents. It falls to 35%, 30% and 15% at PCHI of $2,601 to $3,600, to 15%, 10% and 5% at $3,601 to $4,800, and to nothing above $4,800.
These changes were announced at Budget and MOH’s Committee of Supply 2025, and raised the income ceiling for long-term care subsidies from $3,600 to $4,800 PCHI.
The short version: Home and day care carry higher subsidies than nursing homes at every income level up to $4,800 PCHI. For a middle-income family, the gap between the two can be larger than the difference in list prices suggests.
Worked Example: A Month of Care at Home
Illustration only, using AIC’s starting prices and MOH’s subsidy rates; real fees and subsidy calculations will differ. An illustrative citizen born in 1958 needs help with three daily activities. The household PCHI is $3,000.
| Item | Before subsidy | After 55% subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Day care, 3 sessions a week (13 a month) at $55 | $715 | $322 |
| Home personal care, 10 hours a month at $25 | $250 | $113 |
| Total care fees | $965 | $435 |
Against that, the family may receive:
- Home Caregiving Grant: $400 a month at this income level, from AIC.
- CareShield Life or ElderShield, if the person is covered and assessed as severely disabled.
- MediSave Care, up to $200 a month depending on the MediSave balance.
At the same PCHI, a nursing home at $3,900 a month would attract a 35% residential subsidy for this citizen, leaving about $2,535 before any insurance payout.
Costs Families Often Leave Out
- Transport to day care or appointments.
- A caregiver’s time and income, often the largest cost of home care.
- A foreign domestic worker, if the family hires one: salary, levy and maid insurance.
- Home modifications and equipment, partly supported by the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund, whose income threshold MOH raised to $4,800 PCHI from January 2026.
- Consumables such as diapers and wound dressings.
How the Payouts Fit Together
Long-term care is paid from several pockets at once. Our article on CareShield Life and ElderShield claims explains the assessment, payouts and grants in detail. To see how a monthly care bill would sit against retirement income, try the retirement timeline calculator.
What To Do Next
- Work out your household’s PCHI and find the row that applies in both MOH tables.
- Call AIC on 1800-650-6060 or visit an AIC Link to ask about providers and waiting times near you.
- Check whether the person needing care is on CareShield Life or ElderShield, and whether a supplement exists.
- Settle legal authority early: a Lasting Power of Attorney lets someone act if capacity is lost.
