How much does a nursing home cost in South Carolina?
The median nursing home cost in South Carolina is $9,612 per month for a private room and $9,034 per month for a semi-private room, based on the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey released March 2026. That's roughly $115,340 per year for a private room.
South Carolina nursing home costs run 11% below the national median private-room cost. South Carolina uses a state-specific Community Spouse Resource Allowance of $66,480 (lower than the federal $162,660 maximum used by most states), and the individual asset limit for nursing home Medicaid is $2,000.
2026 South Carolina senior care costs at a glance
| Care type | South Carolina median/month | National median (CareScout 2025) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing home (private) | $9,612 | $10,798 | −11% |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $9,034 | $9,581 | −6% |
| Memory care (est) | $6,700 | $7,750 | −14% |
| Assisted living | $5,350 | $6,200 | −14% |
| Non-medical caregiver (hourly) | $31 | $35 | −11% |
See your exact spend-down timeline for South Carolina
Enter your savings, income, and care type to see how long your money lasts before reaching South Carolina Medicaid asset limits.
Open the South Carolina calculator →Nursing home costs by South Carolina city
Costs vary by metro area within the state. Urban markets typically run 10–25% above state medians, while rural areas can be 10–20% below.
City-level estimates are based on CareScout 2025 metro-area data. Individual facility costs vary 20–40% from these medians depending on amenities, staffing ratios, and room type.
South Carolina Medicaid for nursing home care
South Carolina Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet both medical eligibility (need for skilled nursing care) and financial eligibility (limited assets and income). Understanding the rules before you need them can save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.
South Carolina Medicaid 2026 asset limits
Individual applicant: $2,000 in countable assets (2026)
Married couple, one spouse applying: Community spouse may keep up to $66,480 under the federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (2026 maximum), plus the home, one vehicle, and personal belongings
The 5-year look-back period in South Carolina
South Carolina Medicaid reviews all asset transfers made within 60 months (5 years) of your application date. Gifts to family, property transfers below market value, or large unexplained withdrawals trigger a penalty period that delays Medicaid eligibility — during which you must private-pay.
South Carolina's 2026 penalty divisor is approximately $9,612 per month (~$316 per day). A $50,000 transfer that violates the look-back rule would create roughly a 156-day penalty period during which South Carolina Medicaid will not cover care costs.
This is why elder law attorneys consistently advise families to begin Medicaid planning at least 5 years before nursing home care is needed.
Find a South Carolina elder law attorney
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys maintains a state-by-state directory of certified elder law attorneys.
Find a South Carolina attorney →What makes South Carolina different
South Carolina Medicaid uses a state-specific Community Spouse Resource Allowance of $66,480 — one of the most restrictive CSRAs in the country, well below the federal maximum of $162,660 used by most states. The state regulates assisted living under the regulatory category "Community Residential Care Facilities" (CRCFs) rather than the standard "assisted living facility" terminology, and SCDHHS Community Long Term Care (CLTC) separately certifies CRCFs as Medicaid providers. South Carolina is also a non-expansion state — adults under 65 without dependent children generally cannot qualify for Medicaid regardless of income. Dual-eligible seniors can enroll in Healthy Connections Prime, an integrated managed-care plan that coordinates Medicare and Medicaid benefits and adds annual vision and hearing exams.
Sources: state Medicaid agency program documentation and CMS spousal-impoverishment standards. See our methodology page for the broader data sources used across this site.
How South Carolina compares to neighboring states
Cost differences across state lines can be substantial. Some families consider relocating for care, particularly if adult children live across a border.