CCRC Cost Calculator
Estimate total continuing care retirement community costs including entrance fees, monthly fees, and care level transitions. Compare contract types and analyze the financial trade-offs of CCRC living versus aging in place.
CCRC Costs
Personal & Timeline
Care Level Transitions
Estimate how many years you expect to spend at each care level. Total should equal expected years in CCRC.
Income & Funding Sources
CCRC Funding Readiness Score
You are well-positioned to fund CCRC costs. Your combined savings, home equity, and income can comfortably cover the expected lifetime expenses with a safety margin.
Total Lifetime Cost
$960,408
Entrance Fee (Net)
$150,000
Total Lifetime Cost
$960,408
over 15 years (net of refund)
Average Monthly Cost
$6,169
$3,500/mo base fee
Entrance Fee Refund
$150,000
50% of $300,000
Funding Surplus
$685,747
projected surplus
CCRC breaks even with aging in place at year 15 (age 89)
After 15 years, the CCRC becomes more cost-effective than aging in place with equivalent care services. The large entrance fee is offset by the bundled care costs, especially as care needs increase in later years.
Savings & Cost Projection
How your savings balance changes over the CCRC stay
CCRC vs Aging in Place
Annual cost comparison over time
Contract Type Comparison
Total lifetime cost by contract type
Lifetime Cost Breakdown
Where your CCRC dollars go
Total
$960,408
Entrance Fee (Net)
16%$150,000/yr
Monthly Fees
84%$810,408/yr
Funding Sources
How CCRC costs are covered
Total
$1,646,155
Savings & Home Equity
63%$1,034,155/yr
Social Security
26%$432,000/yr
Pension
11%$180,000/yr
Year-by-Year CCRC Cost Projection
Detailed annual breakdown with care phase transitions
| Year | Age | Care Phase | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Cumulative Cost | Savings Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75 | Independent Living | $3,500 | $42,000 | $342,000 | $762,321 |
| 2 | 76 | Independent Living | $3,622 | $43,464 | $385,464 | $790,150 |
| 3 | 77 | Independent Living | $3,749 | $44,988 | $430,452 | $817,568 |
| 4 | 78 | Independent Living | $3,881 | $46,572 | $477,024 | $844,499 |
| 5 | 79 | Independent Living | $4,016 | $48,192 | $525,216 | $870,887 |
| 6 | 80 | Independent Living | $4,157 | $49,884 | $575,100 | $896,638 |
| 7 | 81 | Independent Living | $4,302 | $51,624 | $626,724 | $921,680 |
| 8 | 82 | Independent Living | $4,453 | $53,436 | $680,160 | $945,911 |
| 9 | 83 | Assisted Living | $4,609 | $55,308 | $735,468 | $969,239 |
| 10 | 84 | Assisted Living | $4,770 | $57,240 | $792,708 | $991,569 |
| 11 | 85 | Assisted Living | $4,937 | $59,244 | $851,952 | $1,012,788 |
| 12 | 86 | Assisted Living | $5,110 | $61,320 | $913,272 | $1,032,780 |
| 13 | 87 | Nursing Care | $5,289 | $63,468 | $976,740 | $1,051,423 |
| 14 | 88 | Nursing Care | $5,474 | $65,688 | $1,042,428 | $1,068,592 |
| 15 | 89 | Nursing Care | $5,665 | $67,980 | $1,110,408 | $1,084,156 |
Personalized Insights
Actionable recommendations based on your numbers
Your finances can cover the full CCRC cost
With $1,034,155 in projected funds at move-in and $3,400/month in income, you can cover the estimated $960,408 lifetime cost. Maintain your savings plan and keep an emergency buffer for unexpected expenses.
Type A (Life Care) is well-suited to your situation
Given your expected 8 years of independent living followed by 4 years of assisted living and 3 years of nursing care, your chosen contract type provides a good balance of cost predictability and value.
50% entrance fee refund ($150,000)
Your CCRC offers a 50% refundable entrance fee, returning $150,000 to your estate. Refundable plans have higher entrance fees but provide financial protection. The effective net entrance fee is $150,000. Confirm the refund terms, timing, and whether it requires the unit to be resold.
Entrance fee opportunity cost: $240,283
If the $300,000 entrance fee were invested at 4% annual return instead, it would generate $240,283 in growth over 15 years. This represents the financial trade-off of committing a large lump sum to a CCRC versus keeping it invested.
CCRC breaks even with aging in place at year 15
After 15 years (age 89), the CCRC becomes more cost-effective than aging in place with equivalent care. This is because CCRCs bundle housing, meals, and care services, while aging in place with increasing care needs becomes progressively more expensive.
Monthly fees rise from $3,500 to ~$5,665/month
At 3.5% annual inflation, your monthly fee in year 15 will be approximately 62% higher than today. CCRC contracts typically allow annual fee increases, so factor rising costs into your long-term financial plan.
5 years to prepare before move-in
You have 5 years before your planned move-in at age 75. Use this time to visit multiple CCRCs, compare contract types, understand refund policies, and maximize savings. Getting on a waitlist early is important as popular CCRCs can have 1-3 year waiting periods.