Live in care can offer a cost effective alternative to moving into a care home. One of the biggest concerns that people come to us with, is what the cost of live in care in London will be. London is pricier than the rest of the UK for many things and live in care services are no exception.
Live in care costs also vary depending on the level of care required, and we will cover this and other aspects of care that affect costs. It is an important consideration when seeking care for yourself or your family.
Read about live in care servicesAverage costs of live in care in London
Care agencies typically quote prices as hourly rates or weekly rates. The typical range of weekly costs for live in care in London are between £800 and £1,600 a week (NHS). This equates to between £3,400 to £6,900 a month.
The main factors that influence the price of live in care are whether any specialist services are required e.g. palliative care nursing and whether the service user needs 24/7 care or only needs help during the day time. Experienced caregivers will often be paid a higher rate per hour. Another factor that can affect the cost of care is whether the duration of care is likely to be short term e.g. for recovery after a hospital visit or respite care or whether long term care is required.
The average hourly rate for live in care is £20 an hour. Service users who require only a few hours of basic assistance a day will be charged less than those who need continuous monitoring or specialist support for complex conditions. A long term caregiver will need breaks so that they can take weekends, occasional nights and and holidays off, so cover is required.
Live in care costs are made up of caregiver wages, holiday cover and relief caregivers, agency fees, any specialist service requirements and additional services. An example of additional services is transportation. Wages in London are higher than in other areas of the UK. In 2025, on average, they are 24% higher than the national average (The Guardian).
Live in care is more cost effective if there are two people who need help in the same home. The price in this situation is likely to be less than twice the weekly rate.
Here at Jothno Care & Support we provide a free initial consultation and quotation for your live in care requirements.
Funding live in care in London
Funding live in care in London can be done privately (called self-funding) or with government assistance.
Self-funding
Private funding for live in care can come from personal funds or insurance cover for critical illness or long term conditions.
Local authority support
Local authority support for live in care can be paid as part of the benefits system. Contact your local council and ask them to arrange for a needs assessment.
Attendance Allowance is a non-contributory benefit specifically designed to pay for care in the home to those who might otherwise go into residential care.
The Personal Independence Payment is a benefit if you have a long term physical or mental disability or difficulty doing everyday tasks. PIP is split into two parts: daily living and mobility.
The benefits available are different if you are state pension age.
You will not be required to sell your home to pay for home care. You may be required to sell your home to pay for a residential care home or nursing home.
Choosing a live in care provider
Aside from the cost implications of using a care agency, there are many considerations when choosing a live in care provider. Assess the care agency to see if they are able to provide the type of service that you and your family needs.
Ask questions if anything about live in care is not clear. You might find it helpful to read our FAQs on our live in care service page to see if there is anything you need to ask before hiring a caregiver to live in the family home.
Costs of live in care in London
As you can see from this guide, the costs of live in care in London are affected by a number of factors. The first is the level of live in care that is needed, the rate is different for basic care and for complex specialist care.
The level of experience of the caregivers will also affect the hourly wage rate. Wages in London are higher than they are in the rest of the country, so this will also affect the price of live in care services.
Live in care can be funded privately or it can be paid for with government assistance. Talk to our professional care team to discuss how you might pay for care and what level of care is needed for your personal situation.
Jothno Care & Support will deliver a package of care that meets your needs and we will tailor your care plan to suit your personality and your family needs.