What does private home care cost per hour?

Paying privately for care gives you flexibility, but prices can be hard to compare. This guide explains what shapes the cost of home care per hour and how to get a written quote.

You'll also find out how government funding can lower what you pay, and what to ask before you sign anything.

What private home care means

Private home care is support you pay for yourself, without government funding. You agree on the services, times and price directly with your provider.

People choose private care for different reasons. Some are waiting for an aged care assessment or for funding to start. Others want more hours than their funding covers, or support that isn't part of a government program.

You can also combine the two. For example, you might use Support at Home, the government's in-home aged care program, and pay privately for extra visits.

What affects the cost of home care per hour

There's no single hourly price for home care. Each provider sets its own rates, and your price depends on the support you need and when you need it.

• Type of support: cleaning, personal care and nursing are usually priced differently

• Who delivers it: Registered Nurses and allied health professionals have their own rates

• Time of day: evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays often have higher rates

• Visit length: a minimum visit length can make short visits cost more per hour

• Travel: some providers charge for travel time or kilometres

Two providers with the same hourly rate can end up costing quite different amounts. Minimum visits, travel charges and weekend rates often make the difference, so ask about each one.

Questions to ask before you agree on a price

A clear quote helps you compare providers fairly, so ask these questions when you call or meet one.

• What's the hourly rate for each type of support I need?

• Do rates change for evenings, weekends or public holidays?

• Is there a minimum visit length?

• How do you charge for travel and transport to appointments?

• How much notice do I need to give to cancel a visit?

• Can I have the full price in writing before services start?

Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that set out the services, prices and cancellation terms. Read them before you sign. A family member or friend can look over them with you, if it helps.

How government funding can lower your costs

If you're 65 or older, or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, you may be eligible for government-subsidised aged care. An aged care assessment works out which support you can receive.

Under Support at Home, you contribute towards some services based on your income and assets. You don't contribute to clinical supports such as nursing. Since 1 October 2026, the government has also fully funded approved personal care, such as help with showering and dressing.

Contributions for everyday living services, like cleaning and gardening, range from 17.5% for full pensioners up to 80% for some self-funded retirees. My Aged Care explains the rates on its costs and contributions page. Its fee estimator can give you a rough idea.

Support at Home providers must publish their full price list online. You can compare prices using the Find a provider tool.

To find out if you're eligible, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or apply online.

Private care while you wait for funding

Wait times for Support at Home funding depend on the services you're approved for and your priority category. Some people use private care in the meantime, then move to funded support when it starts.

If you do this, ask whether the same provider can deliver both. Keeping the same team can make the change easier for you or your loved one.

Talk to us about the cost of care

At HomeCaring, we'll give you a written quote before any support starts, so you know what you'll pay.

As a guide, our price list starts at $122 an hour for a support worker. That's on weekdays between 6am and 8pm, with higher rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays. These are our private rates from 1 August 2026, and the same prices apply under Support at Home.

We offer a free in-home assessment. We'll talk through what you need, explain our prices and show how private care can work alongside any funding you have. Reach out to our Care Specialists on 1300 875 377.