What Senior Living Costs in Texas
The median published starting price for assisted living in Texas is $3,950 per month, computed live from 171 communities publishing rates on MyLivingChoice. Texas is one of the largest senior living markets in the country, and prices swing widely between its metros, so statewide averages hide more than they reveal. Every price on this page updates as listings change, instead of quoting a survey that ages.
Key facts
- •The median published starting price for assisted living in Texas is $3,950 per month, reported by 171 communities on MyLivingChoice.
- •Among Texas cities with enough published prices to compare, Corpus Christi is the least expensive (median $2,195 per month) and Plano the most (median $3,786).
- •STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services can cover care services in participating Texas communities for Medicaid-eligible seniors; no state's Medicaid pays assisted living room and board.
- •Medicare never pays for assisted living room and board, in any state; it covers medical care such as rehab stays and home health visits.
- •MyLivingChoice lists 5,171 senior living communities and care providers in Texas; every price on this page is computed live from their published rates.
Median starting price by care type
Median of published starting prices across Texas communities on MyLivingChoice. Starting prices usually cover rent, meals, and base services; care is often charged by assessed level on top.
| Care type | Median starting price | Communities reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $3,950/mo | 171 |
| Memory Care | $4,287/mo | 134 |
| Independent Living | $2,940/mo | 93 |
| Respite / Short-Term Care | $3,675/mo | 63 |
| Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care | $4,400/mo | 26 |
| At-Home Care | $500/mo | 5 |
Where Texas is cheaper, and where it is not
Cities with at least three communities publishing prices, least expensive first.
| City | Median starting price | Communities reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | $2,195/mo | 3 |
| Richardson | $2,199/mo | 3 |
| Mesquite | $2,250/mo | 5 |
| San Antonio | $2,362/mo | 8 |
| Tyler | $2,495/mo | 5 |
| Allen | $2,530/mo | 4 |
| Arlington | $2,995/mo | 5 |
| Carrollton | $3,423/mo | 6 |
| Cedar Park | $3,472/mo | 4 |
| Round Rock | $3,495/mo | 7 |
| Conroe | $3,562/mo | 4 |
| Plano | $3,786/mo | 5 |
How families pay in Texas: STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services
Texas Medicaid does not pay assisted living room and board anywhere, and no state's Medicaid does. What Texas offers instead is STAR+PLUS, the state's managed-care Medicaid program for adults who are over 65 or have disabilities. Through its Home and Community Based Services option, STAR+PLUS can cover the care portion of assisted living (personal care, medication management, nursing oversight) in facilities that participate in the program.
Three practical realities: eligibility has both income and asset limits and a needs assessment; not every community accepts STAR+PLUS, so ask each community directly before touring; and demand can exceed capacity, so families expecting to need it should apply earlier than feels necessary. Applications go through Texas Health and Human Services, and a local benefits counselor at your Area Agency on Aging will walk you through it at no cost.
Beyond Medicaid, the routes are the same everywhere: private funds and family cost-sharing, long-term care insurance for those who bought it, VA Aid and Attendance for qualifying wartime veterans and surviving spouses, and home equity. The full picture is in how families actually pay for senior care.
Who regulates it, and free help
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Licenses every assisted living facility in Texas as Type A (residents who can evacuate unassisted) or Type B (residents who need overnight staff attendance and help evacuating). Inspection histories are public through the HHSC long-term care provider search.
Area Agencies on Aging of Texas
28 regional agencies offering free benefits counseling, care planning, and caregiver support. Reachable statewide by dialing 2-1-1.
Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Independent advocates for residents of assisted living and nursing facilities. Free help resolving complaints about care or billing.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
One-stop navigation for long-term care options and Medicaid applications, run through Texas Health and Human Services.
See real Texas communities and prices
Compare Texas communities with photos, reviews, and published prices, or tell us the situation and we will shortlist communities with availability.
Common questions
- Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Texas?
- Partially, for those who qualify. The STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services program covers care services in participating assisted living facilities for eligible seniors, but never room and board, which the resident pays. Not all communities participate, so ask each one directly.
- What is the difference between a Type A and Type B facility in Texas?
- It is about evacuation and overnight needs. Type A facilities serve residents who can follow directions and leave the building unassisted in an emergency. Type B facilities staff for residents who need help evacuating or overnight attendance. Communities hold one license or the other, and it tells you the acuity they can legally serve.
- Why do Texas assisted living prices vary so much by city?
- Real estate and labor. The big-metro suburbs of Dallas, Austin, and Houston run well above the state median, while smaller cities often run meaningfully below it. The city table on this page is computed from live listings, so it reflects the spread as it stands today.
- How much does assisted living cost in Texas?
- The median published starting price is $3,950 per month across the 171 Texas communities publishing rates on MyLivingChoice. Starting prices typically cover rent, meals, and base services, with care charges added by assessed need.