In Minnesota, in-home care typically costs about $25 to $41 per hour – roughly $30 to $36 an hour on average – which works out to around $3,300 or more per month for part-time help. Assisted living averages about $3,700 to $4,700 per month, and memory care adds roughly $745 to $1,200 on top of that. What you actually pay comes down to how many hours you need, the level of care, and where in the state you live.
In-home care: hourly and monthly costs
Most non-medical in-home care in Minnesota is billed by the hour. As of 2026, hourly rates generally run from about $25 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro to $40 or more in parts of southern Minnesota – Rochester and Mankato sit at the higher end, while St. Cloud tends to be more affordable. The statewide median for a home health aide lands around $36 to $41 per hour.
A realistic monthly example: about 130 hours of care a month (roughly 30 hours a week) at metro rates comes to around $3,300. Add hours and the cost scales with them.
What about 24/7 care? Round-the-clock in-home care adds up fast – at $25 to $41 an hour, continuous coverage runs roughly $18,000 to $30,000 a month. That is why families who need constant supervision often weigh in-home care against assisted living or memory care.
Assisted living and memory care costs
If care moves from the home into a community, Minnesota assisted living averages about $3,700 a month for a studio, $3,965 for a one-bedroom, and $4,713 for a two-bedroom. Memory care – for dementia or Alzheimer’s – is usually an add-on of about $745 to $1,200 a month above the assisted living rate.
What drives the cost
- Hours of care – a few hours of companionship a week costs far less than daily or overnight coverage.
- Level of care – help with bathing, transfers, and medication costs more than light housekeeping or companionship.
- Skilled vs. non-medical – a nurse or therapist (home health care) costs more per hour than a caregiver (home care).
- Location – the metro and southern Minnesota trend higher; central Minnesota tends to be lower.
- Agency vs. private hire – agencies cost more per hour but handle hiring, training, backup coverage, insurance, and payroll.
How to pay for home care in Minnesota
Most families use one or more of these:
- Private pay – out of pocket or from savings, the most common route for shorter-term or supplemental care.
- Long-term care insurance – if a policy is in place, it often covers in-home personal care; check the daily benefit and elimination period.
- Veterans benefits – the VA Aid & Attendance benefit can help qualifying veterans and surviving spouses pay for in-home care.
- Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) – for those who qualify financially and by need, MA can cover in-home personal care through CFSS.
Medical Assistance and CFSS (what replaced PCA)
Minnesota replaced its longtime Personal Care Assistance (PCA) program with Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) on October 1, 2024. Anyone still on PCA must transition to CFSS by September 30, 2026. CFSS is funded through Medical Assistance and is available statewide to eligible elderly and disabled Minnesotans living in the community.
CFSS offers two ways to receive services:
- Agency Model – you choose a CFSS provider agency that hires, trains, supervises, and pays the caregivers.
- Budget Model – you manage a budget and employ your own workers (in many cases including certain family members), with a financial-management service handling payroll.
Eligibility and covered hours are set through a MnCHOICES assessment with your county or health plan. If you think you may qualify, that assessment is the place to start.
Home care vs. home health care
People use these interchangeably, but they are different. Home care is non-medical help with daily living – bathing, dressing, meals, companionship, transportation. Home health care is skilled clinical care from nurses or therapists, usually doctor-ordered and often short-term. The costs and payment sources differ, so it helps to know which one you actually need.
The bottom line
Budget roughly $25 to $41 an hour for in-home care in Minnesota, about $3,300+ a month for part-time help, and $3,700 to $4,700+ a month if you move to assisted living or memory care. The right number depends on your hours and level of care – and for many families, Medical Assistance through CFSS makes it affordable.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover home care in Minnesota? Only in limited cases. Medicare pays for short-term skilled home health care – like nursing or therapy after a hospital stay – not ongoing non-medical or custodial personal care. For long-term in-home support, families rely on private pay, long-term care insurance, or Medical Assistance.
Does Medical Assistance cover in-home care? Yes, for those who qualify. Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program covers in-home personal care through CFSS (which replaced PCA in 2024), based on financial eligibility and a needs assessment.
How much does 24/7 home care cost in Minnesota? Continuous in-home care runs roughly $18,000 to $30,000 a month at typical hourly rates, which is why families needing round-the-clock support often compare it with assisted living or memory care.
Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living? For part-time help, usually yes. Once you need more than roughly 40 to 50 hours a week, in-home care can cost more than assisted living, so the math flips at higher care levels.
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