Columbia Senior AdvisorWhat is the average cost of assisted living in Columbia, SC?
No Columbia figure is published; CareScout's 2025 South Carolina median is $64,200 a year, about $5,350 a month, for a private one-bedroom in assisted living.
| South Carolina, 2025 | Median per year | Per month (about) | 1-year change | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted living (private one-bedroom) | $64,200 | $5,350 | +3% | $74,400 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $108,405 | $9,034 | +1% | $114,975 |
| Nursing home, private room | $115,340 | $9,612 | +1% | $129,575 |
| Home care, non-medical (44 hrs/week) | $71,786 | $5,982 | +5% | $80,080 |
| Adult day health care (5 days/week) | $18,720 | $1,560 | n/a | $24,700 |
CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, South Carolina results (released March 2, 2026). Monthly figures are the annual medians divided by 12. Home care is priced at 44 hours a week for 52 weeks (about $31.37 an hour). CareScout's South Carolina release publishes statewide medians only: there is no Columbia-only figure and no memory care figure.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in South Carolina?
Not directly for room and board; South Carolina helps low-income residents through Optional State Supplementation in participating CRCFs and through Community Choices Residential Personal Care, which pays for care but not rent and meals.
Both depend on the facility participating, so ask each community.
What is the difference between OSS and Community Choices?
OSS is state money paid to a participating CRCF as payment in full for a low-income resident's room, board and care; Community Choices is a Medicaid waiver for people at nursing facility level of care that pays for services at home or for personal care in a participating CRCF.
OSS has an income limit of $1,804 a month in 2026; Community Choices uses Medicaid's long-term care rules, generally income up to $2,982 a month and resources of $2,000.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in South Carolina?
CareScout's 2025 South Carolina medians are about $9,034 a month for a semi-private room and $9,612 for a private room.
Medicare covers only short skilled stays; Medicaid pays long stays for eligible residents.
How much does home care cost per hour around Columbia?
About $31 an hour at CareScout's 2025 South Carolina median for a non-medical home care worker, or about $5,982 a month at 44 hours a week.
| Hours of paid help a week | Monthly cost at $31 an hour | Compared with the $5,350 assisted living median |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | $1,612 | below it |
| 20 | $2,687 | below it |
| 28 | $3,761 | below it |
| 36 | $4,836 | below it |
| 40 | $5,373 | above it |
| 48 | $6,448 | above it |
| 56 | $7,523 | above it |
| 84 | $11,284 | above it |
| 168 | $22,568 | above it |
What is the 2026 personal needs allowance for an OSS resident?
$85 a month for a resident whose only recurring income is SSI and $105 for a resident with other income, under SCDHHS Medicaid Bulletin MB# 26-001.
The facility must make sure the resident receives it, and the admission agreement must state the amount.
Can long-term care insurance pay for a South Carolina CRCF?
Usually, once the policyholder needs help with two or more daily activities or has a cognitive impairment and the elimination period has passed; a CRCF's DPH license meets the licensed-facility requirement of most policies.
Call the insurer before choosing a community.
