Care home costs in Kent
Weekly fees for 2026, from the homes that publish them. Updated as homes confirm their prices.
There are 499 care homes registered with the CQC in Kent, South East. 16 have a weekly fee on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical residential care home fee in Kent is £1,500 a week, about £78,000 a year. The middle half of homes charge between £1,440 and £1,500. That is close to the the South East average of £1,500. That is about 11% more than the England figure of £1,350.
Nursing care in Kent typically costs £1,550 a week, based on 4 nursing homes with a fee on record. The NHS pays a weekly contribution towards the nursing part of that fee, direct to the home. Dementia care is typically £1,500 a week.
Of the homes with a published fee, The Chestnuts Care Home in Gravesend is the least expensive at £950 a week and Hale Place Farmhouse in Tonbridge the most at £1,900. A gap that size within one council area is normal: the room, the building and whether nursing is included all move the price.
Least expensive care homes in Kent
| Care home | Town | CQC | From, a week | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chestnuts Care Home Dementia | Gravesend | CQC: Good | £950 | 37% below |
| Fairby Grange Dementia | Longfield | CQC: Good | £1,150 | 23% below |
| Alexander House - Dover Dementia | Dover | CQC: Good | £1,300 | 13% below |
| Meadow View Residential Care Home Dementia | Canterbury | CQC: Inadequate | £1,440 | 4% below |
| Dale Lodge Dementia | Southfleet | CQC: Good | £1,500 | about typical |
| Dale Mount Dementia | Southfleet | CQC: Good | £1,500 | about typical |
| Eastfield Dementia | Maidstone | CQC: Good | £1,500 | about typical |
| Haydon-Mayer Nursing · Dementia | Herne Bay | CQC: Requires improvement | £1,500 | about typical |
Most expensive care homes in Kent
| Care home | Town | CQC | From, a week | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hale Place Farmhouse Dementia | Tonbridge | CQC: Outstanding | £1,900 | 27% above |
| Nesbit House Care Home Nursing · Dementia | Sevenoaks | CQC: Good | £1,850 | 23% above |
| Martello Manor Hythe Limited Dementia | Hythe | CQC: Not yet rated | £1,600 | 7% above |
| Larchmere House Nursing Home Nursing · Dementia | Cranbrook | CQC: Requires improvement | £1,600 | 7% above |
| Harbledown Lodge Nursing · Dementia | Canterbury | CQC: Requires improvement | £1,600 | 7% above |
| Chestfield House Nursing · Dementia | Whitstable | CQC: Requires improvement | £1,600 | 7% above |
| Whitstable Nursing Home Nursing · Dementia | Whitstable | CQC: Requires improvement | £1,500 | about typical |
| Walmer Care Centre Dementia | Deal | CQC: Good | £1,500 | about typical |
“From” is the lowest weekly figure the home has published or confirmed to us, dated on each home’s page. Homes that add or correct a fee appear here within the day.
How Kent compares with nearby areas
| Council area | Residential, a week | Nursing, a week | Homes with fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | £1,500 | £1,550 | 16 |
| East Sussex | £1,131 | 5 |
What the fee includes
A care home fee in Kent normally covers the room, meals, laundry, heating and personal care. Nursing homes add care from registered nurses. Hairdressing, chiropody, trips out, newspapers and some toiletries are usually charged on top, so ask for the list of extras before you sign.
Larger rooms, en suites and garden views cost more. Fees are reviewed once a year, usually in April; ask what last year’s increase was.
Who pays in Kent
If you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets you will normally pay the full fee yourself. Below that, Kent council assesses what you can contribute. The value of your home counts unless a partner or certain relatives still live there.
If you need nursing care the NHS pays a weekly contribution direct to the home. People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole fee.
Care home or live-in care in Kent?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers costs from about £1,120 a week for one person and the same carer can look after a couple. The typical residential fee in Kent is £1,500 a week per person, so for a couple live-in care is usually far cheaper than two care home places. Complex live-in care, for higher needs, is from about £1,344 a week.
How live-in care worksCommon questions
How much does a care home in Kent cost a week?
The typical residential care home in Kent charges £1,500 a week and nursing care £1,550, based on 16 homes with a fee on record. Every home page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does a care home in Kent cost a year?
At £1,500 a week a year in a residential care home comes to about £78,000, and nursing care about £80,600. Most homes raise fees once a year, usually in April.
What is the cheapest care home in Kent?
The Chestnuts Care Home in Gravesend has the lowest published fee we hold for Kent, from £950 a week (residential care). The full table on this page lists every home with a fee on record, cheapest first.
Will Kent council pay for my care home?
If your savings and assets are below £23,250, Kent council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the fee. Councils pay a set rate; if the home you choose charges more, a relative or friend may need to pay a top-up. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in Kent?
Standard live-in care costs from about £1,120 a week and complex care from about £1,344. Against the typical Kent residential fee of £1,500 it is less for one person, and for a couple it is usually much cheaper because one carer looks after both.
Fees last checked August 2026.