Polski
УкраїнськаCare home for older people: costs in 2026 and cheaper alternatives
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
A place in a shared room at a private care home for older people in Poland costs a median of 6,100 PLN/month, typically 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month. A single room costs around 8,000 PLN/month, while higher-standard facilities cost around 10,000 PLN/month. A live-in carer in the older person's home costs a similar amount, around 6,150 PLN/month.
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- A place in a shared room at a private care home for older people typically costs 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month.
- A single room in a private care home costs around 8,000 PLN/month, while a short-term stay costs around 220 PLN/day.
- A live-in carer for an older person costs around 6,150 PLN/month, while an hour of home care typically costs 46 ‑ 55 PLN/h.
- A year in a private care home at the median price costs around PLN 73,000.
- A patient-day in a private hospice typically costs 140 ‑ 195 PLN/day, while palliative care funded by the NFZ (Polish public health insurance) is free.
The decision to move someone into a care home is rarely based on finances alone, but money quickly becomes one of the family’s main concerns. A private care home, a live-in carer and hourly care all have different costs and provide different levels of support. Below, we compare the prices of these options, explain who pays for a place in a public or private facility, and suggest what to ask before signing a contract. The figures are medians from public price lists published by care facilities and care providers.
How much does a care home cost per month?
A place in a shared room at a private care home for older people costs a median of 6,100 PLN/month per month, while half of the collected prices fall within the 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month range. According to 5 price lists and articles collected by indekscen.pl, the cheapest option costs 4,800 PLN/month and the most expensive costs 8,000 PLN/month.
The price usually includes accommodation, full board, basic 24-hour care and activities for residents. Room standard has the greatest impact on the price: a single room costs around 8,000 PLN/month, while higher-standard facilities cost around 10,000 PLN/month.
| Private care home: option | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic service | 6,100 PLN/month | 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month | 5 |
| Single room | 8,000 PLN/month | 8,000 PLN/month | 2 |
| Short-term stay (per day) | 220 PLN/day | 220 PLN/day | 1 |
| Premium / high-standard care | 10,000 PLN/month | 10,000 PLN/month | 1 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
The cost is also affected by:
- Room standard. A twin or triple room is considerably cheaper than a single en-suite room.
- Location. Prices in Warsaw and Mazowsze are considerably higher than, for example, in Łódź or smaller towns.
- Level of care. Rehabilitation, nursing care for a bedbound person and specialist diets may cost extra.
- Length of stay. A short-term stay charged by the day costs more than a monthly contract.
At the median price, a year-long stay costs around PLN 73,000, typically PLN 66,000 ‑ 79,000. Calculating the budget this way makes it easier to compare it with the older person’s pension and the family’s financial means.
Can you find a private care home for PLN three or four thousand?
None of the private care homes in the collected price lists costs less than 4,800 PLN/month per month, so offers costing around a few thousand PLN should be checked particularly carefully. A very low price often means a shared room, limited care at night, or additional charges for medicines, incontinence products and rehabilitation that are not included in the price.
Cheaper options are available, but outside the private market:
- Social welfare home (DPS). Placement is arranged through the social welfare centre in the municipality (gmina). The older person pays part of their income, while the municipality or family covers the difference.
- Residential care and treatment facility (ZOL). With a referral, the NFZ funds the medical portion of the stay, while the patient contributes towards accommodation and meals from part of their income.
- Day centre for older people. Care and activities during the day, with nights spent at home. This is a good option when the family can provide support in the evening and overnight.
There is often a wait for a place in a DPS or ZOL, so many families use a private facility or a carer at home in the meantime. It is best to check the payment rules in the relevant municipality with the local social welfare centre.
Care home or home carer: which is cheaper?
A live-in carer costs around 6,150 PLN/month per month, which is similar to a place in a private care home (6,100 PLN/month). The difference is that when care is provided in the older person’s home, bills, food and replacement cover for the carer’s days off are additional expenses, whereas these are included in the price at a care home.
| Type of care | Cost (median) | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Care home, shared room | 6,100 PLN/month | an older person requiring 24-hour care |
| Care home, single room | 8,000 PLN/month | when privacy is important |
| Live-in carer | 6,150 PLN/month | an older person who wants to remain at home |
| Carer for several hours a day | 4,000 PLN/month | a partly independent older person |
| One hour of home care | 48 PLN/h | occasional support and respite for the family |
| Private hospice, per day | 190 PLN/day | end-of-life care when no NFZ-funded place is available |
Hourly care is the cheapest option as long as the older person only needs help for part of the day. At four hours a day for 30 days, or 120 hours per month, the median rate gives a total of around PLN 5,800, typically PLN 5,500 ‑ 6,600. When care is needed at night and with every daily activity, a care home or live-in carer will usually cost less than arranging care by the hour. Full details of the rates are available at carer for an elderly person.
Who pays for an older person’s stay in a care home?
A stay in a private care home is paid for by the older person or their family according to the facility’s price list, typically 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month. The rules are different in a public DPS: the older person pays part of their income, while the municipality covers the rest. The municipality may ask immediate family members to contribute if their income exceeds the statutory threshold.
For private facilities, families often split the cost: the older person’s pension covers part of the fee and their children pay the remainder. It is worth agreeing this in writing from the outset, including who will pay for medicines and hygiene products, as these expenses can significantly increase the monthly bill above the listed price.
Does the NFZ cover the cost of a care home?
The NFZ does not cover stays in private care homes, which typically cost 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month. However, the NFZ funds the medical portion of stays in residential care and treatment facilities, as well as palliative care in hospices with a doctor’s referral. It is best to discuss every form of support for which the older person may qualify with their GP and local social welfare centre.
What is the difference between a retirement home and a care home?
A retirement home is usually intended for relatively independent people, with an emphasis on accommodation, meals and activities, while a care home provides 24-hour assistance with daily activities and personal care. In practice, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, so check the scope of care in the contract rather than relying on the name. Prices at private facilities of both types typically fall within the 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month range.
How much does a stay in a private hospice cost?
A stay in a private hospice costs a median of 190 PLN/day per day, typically 140 ‑ 195 PLN/day, while private palliative care at home costs around 115 PLN/day. Palliative and hospice care funded by the NFZ, both in inpatient hospices and at home, is free with a doctor’s referral. Private prices apply when there is a wait for a place or the family chooses a facility without an NFZ contract. More information is available at palliative care.
How do you choose a care home without overpaying?
- Visit the facility without an appointment and speak to residents and their families.
- Ask what is included in the price: medicines, hygiene products, laundry, rehabilitation and doctor visits.
- Check night-time staffing: how many carers there are per resident and whether a nurse is present.
- Ask to see its entry in the voivode’s register: a private 24-hour care facility must be licensed.
- Start with a short-term stay costing around 220 PLN/day, if the facility offers one.
Sometimes an alternative to residential care is adapting the older person’s flat, which we discuss in the article how much does it cost to renovate a flat. Differences in service prices between cities are covered in where services are cheapest. You can find all care services in the care category, while detailed prices for care home stays are available at private care home.
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private care home | 6,100 PLN/month | 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month | 5 |
| Carer for an elderly person | 48 PLN/h | 46 ‑ 55 PLN/h | 5 |
| Palliative care | 190 PLN/day | 140 ‑ 195 PLN/day | 3 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
„Koszt miesięczny zaczyna się od 6600 zł za pobyt w pokoju trzyosobowym.”
Rezydencja Park, source
„Koszt pobytu w prywatnym domu seniora w 2026 roku jest uzależniony od standardu zakwaterowania i waha się od 5 530 zł za miejsce w pokoju wieloosobowym do ponad 8 000 zł za pokój jednoosobowy.”
Rankomat.pl, 2026-04, source
„dom spokojnej starości – ceny od 6100 zł miesięcznie”
Gołębi Dwór, source
„Dla porównania w Łodzi cena pobytu w domu opieki osób starszych waha się od 4800 do 5900, a w Warszawie i województwie mazowieckim, ten koszt jest o 30% wyższy.”
Dom Opieki Ambrozja (Łódź), source
The prices in this article come from public price lists published by care homes and care providers, as well as guide articles. Each price is accompanied on the service page by its source, date and a verbatim quotation, and the medians are updated together with the index (as at 5 October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family have to contribute towards a DPS care home?
W publicznym DPS senior płaci część swojego dochodu, a różnicę do kosztu utrzymania pokrywa zwykle gmina, czasem rodzina, zależnie od jej dochodów. Dla porównania prywatny dom opieki kosztuje według cennika placówki, zwykle 5,500 ‑ 6,600 PLN/month.
How much does a short stay in a care home cost?
Pobyt krótkoterminowy, na przykład na czas urlopu opiekuna, kosztuje w zebranych cennikach około 220 PLN/day. To dobry sposób, żeby sprawdzić placówkę przed dłuższym pobytem.
How much does a carer charge per hour?
Opiekunka osoby starszej bierze zwykle 46 ‑ 55 PLN/h, mediana to 48 PLN/h. Opieka w weekend kosztuje więcej, około 65 PLN/h.
How much does the most expensive care home cost?
Placówki o wysokim standardzie liczą według źródeł około 10,000 PLN/month, a najwyższa zebrana cena za pobyt to 8,000 PLN/month.
How much does a single personal-care visit by a carer cost?
Pojedyncza wizyta higieniczno-pielęgnacyjna kosztuje w zebranych cennikach około PLN 100. To rozwiązanie dla seniorów, którzy na co dzień radzą sobie sami.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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