Written by Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Reviewed for accuracy against the Homecare Association's 2026/27 minimum-price report and Age UK's 2026 factsheets. Numbers verified 21 June 2026.
Live-in care vs hourly care: the honest cost comparison
The break-even sits between 50 and 60 hours a week. Below that, hourly visiting is cheaper and gives your mum more privacy. Above it, a live-in carer costs less per useful hour and a single person becomes familiar.
The arithmetic at the break-even
| Hours/wk | Hourly @ £30/hr | Live-in (mid) | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | £420 | £1,400 | Hourly |
| 28 | £840 | £1,400 | Hourly |
| 42 | £1,260 | £1,400 | Hourly |
| 50 | £1,500 | £1,400 | Live-in |
| 56 | £1,680 | £1,400 | Live-in |
| 70 | £2,100 | £1,500 | Live-in |
Hourly @ £30/hr is the South East mid-range; live-in mid is The Good Care Group's published from-price[1]. Higher complexity (dementia, two-carer) shifts the line earlier.
What live-in actually costs in 2026
- Introductory agencies (Elder, Hometouch): £950-£1400/wk[1]. The carer is self-employed; the family carries more cover and replacement risk.
- Managed services (The Good Care Group, Helping Hands, Promedica24): £1500-£1900/wk[1]. Carer directly employed; training, replacement and supervision included.
- Couple care: add about £450/wk to a single-occupant rate[1].
- Complex care (advanced dementia, end of life with personal care): add £200-£400/wk.
What is included in each model
| Element | Hourly | Introductory live-in | Managed live-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carer pay | Per hour | Direct to carer | Inside weekly fee |
| Travel time | Often included | n/a (in residence) | n/a |
| Sickness cover | Agency | Family arranges | Provider arranges |
| Training | Agency | Carer responsibility | Provider |
| Insurance | Agency | Family (employer) | Provider |
| Care plan | Agency | Family agrees | Care manager |
When hourly is genuinely better even at higher cost
- No spare room, or no quiet break space.
- The cared-for person sleeps reliably through the night and panics at unfamiliar presence.
- Needs are short-burst across the day (morning + lunch + tea + bed) rather than sustained.
- Family lives close and can cover the gaps between visits.
- The clinical picture is changing weekly: hourly is easier to scale up and down.
Next steps
- Run the cost calculator for your mum's hours and region.
- Compare Elder vs The Good Care Group for introductory vs managed live-in.
- Live-in vs care home for the residential comparison.
- Agency vs directly employed carer for the £900-£1,100/wk DIY route.