London care-cost comparison · 2026
Live-in companion support cost vs a care home.
In London in 2026, published averages put regulated live-in care at about £1,293 a week and residential care at about £1,598 a week. They are not equivalent services. Filipino Domestic Services introduces non-clinical live-in companions for company and practical support, with the household employing the person directly.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
Sometimes, but the headline comparison can be misleading. Homecare.co.uk currently reports an average London live-in care price of about £1,293 a week, while Lottie’s Q2 2026 index reports average London residential-care fees of £1,598 a week and nursing-care fees of £1,821 a week.
Those live-in-care figures describe care-provider services. Filipino Domestic Services’ live-in companion route is different: it is a direct household employment arrangement for non-clinical companionship and practical support. Compare the required duties first, then compare the cost structure.
A 2026 London cost snapshot.
These figures come from different market datasets and should be used as planning benchmarks, not quotes for an individual person.
Average weekly live-in price shown across London listings on homecare.co.uk. Actual provider quotes vary with needs and provider model.
Average London residential-care fee in Lottie’s Q2 2026 care index for listed homes.
Average London nursing-care fee in the same Q2 2026 Lottie dataset.
A Filipino Domestic Services companion introduction is not represented by the £1,293 live-in-care provider average. For a direct placement, the household budgets separately for gross pay, employer on-costs, accommodation, cover and the applicable agency introduction fee.
Do not compare unlike services
Companion support is not a substitute for regulated personal care.
The Care Quality Commission defines personal care around activities such as washing, dressing, toileting and similar physical assistance. CQC also states that social support, such as help with shopping, is outside that regulated activity when personal-care tasks are not provided.
Filipino Domestic Services therefore keeps the live-in companion route focused on company, outings, shopping, simple meals and agreed household support. If the person needs regulated personal care, nursing, treatment or health-related supervision, use an appropriate service for those needs.
Read the CQC personal-care boundaryWhat are you actually paying for?
The cost structure changes because the models package accommodation, staffing and household expenses differently.
| Cost item | Direct-hire live-in companion | Regulated live-in care provider | Care home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | The household provides suitable private accommodation in the existing home. | The household normally provides suitable accommodation for the live-in carer. | Accommodation is part of the care-home fee. |
| Day-to-day support | Non-clinical companionship and agreed practical household tasks. | Care package can include regulated personal care where the provider is appropriately registered. | Residential support is delivered within the home; nursing care is a separate care-home category. |
| Food and household bills | The household continues to pay normal home-running costs and agrees the worker’s arrangements. | The client remains responsible for the home and usually the carer’s food/accommodation arrangements. | Meals, utilities and communal facilities are commonly included, but inclusions vary by home. |
| Employment or provider administration | The household is the direct employer for a permanent placement and manages payroll and employment duties. | Usually built into the provider’s charge, depending on the service model. | Built into the care-home fee structure. |
| Cover and time off | The household must plan cover when the employee is off duty or on leave. | Provider model may include or arrange replacement cover; check the quote. | Staffing cover is part of the institutional service. |
Staying at home means the property costs do not disappear.
A care-home fee packages accommodation and care into one recurring charge. Staying at home separates those costs. The person may continue paying mortgage or rent, council tax where applicable, utilities, food, maintenance, insurance and household repairs alongside the support arrangement.
For a direct-hire companion, the household must also budget for gross salary, employer National Insurance where due, pension obligations where applicable, payroll administration, employer’s liability insurance, agreed expenses and cover during leave or off-duty periods.
Review household-employer responsibilitiesFor couples, the arithmetic can change substantially.
Care-home fees are generally charged per resident. Using Lottie’s Q2 2026 London residential average purely as an illustration, two places would be about £3,196 a week before any individual extras or specialist-care premiums.
Live-in provider pricing for a couple varies with the needs of both people. A direct-hire companion role also needs a realistic workload test: one person can only support two household members where the combined non-clinical duties fit the agreed hours and responsibility.
How Filipino Domestic Services approaches the comparison
We scope the support before discussing whether the model is economical.
When Filipino Domestic Services receives a live-in companion enquiry, the useful starting point is the recurring task list: who needs support, what a normal day looks like, whether any personal-care tasks are present, the working hours, accommodation and how off-duty cover will work.
That sequence matters because a lower headline figure is not useful if the role cannot safely or realistically meet the person’s needs. Once the boundary is clear, the household can compare direct employment, a regulated live-in provider and residential care on the same practical basis.
See how the live-in companion role is definedWhich cost comparison should carry the most weight?
Use the support requirement as the first filter, then compare cost, continuity and living arrangement.
The core need is companionship, outings and practical daily support; the household can manage employment responsibilities; and suitable accommodation is available.
Live-in companion supportThe person needs regulated personal care at home, or the family wants a managed provider structure with care planning and operational cover appropriate to the assessed needs.
Compare provider quotes on the same care plan.The person benefits from an institutional setting, communal facilities, continuous onsite staffing or nursing provision that cannot realistically be delivered through the chosen home arrangement.
Compare the required care model separately from price.Check funding before assuming you will self-fund the full amount.
In England, a council needs assessment is free. For 2026/27, the upper capital limit for local-authority social-care support remains £23,250, although the amount a council contributes depends on assessed needs and a financial assessment.
2026 sources used for this comparison.
Questions about live-in care and care-home costs.
How much does live-in care cost in London in 2026?
Homecare.co.uk currently shows an average London live-in care price of about £1,293 per week across its provider listings. This is a market average for care-provider services, not the cost of a Filipino Domestic Services direct-hire companion placement.
How much does a care home cost in London in 2026?
Lottie’s Q2 2026 care index reports an average London residential-care fee of £1,598 per week and an average nursing-care fee of £1,821 per week. Individual homes can be materially above or below these figures.
Is a live-in companion the same as live-in care?
No. The Filipino Domestic Services route described here is for non-clinical companionship and practical support. Regulated personal care includes activities such as washing, dressing and toileting and requires the appropriate legal and service arrangement.
Is live-in support always cheaper for a couple?
No. Care homes usually charge per resident, so two places can create a much higher combined fee, but a live-in arrangement must still be capable of meeting both people’s needs. Extra care, night cover or specialist support can change the cost substantially.
What hidden costs should I include when someone stays at home?
Budget for the continuing cost of the home, utilities, food, maintenance and insurance. For a direct employee, also consider gross pay, payroll, employer National Insurance, pension duties, insurance, expenses and cover during leave or off-duty time.
Can the council or NHS help with the cost?
Possibly. Ask the local council for a needs assessment and financial assessment. Adults with a primary health need may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, and eligible nursing-home residents may receive NHS-funded nursing care.
Define the support first, then compare the real cost.
Tell Filipino Domestic Services about the routine, practical duties, accommodation and working hours if the requirement is non-clinical live-in companionship.