How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Melbourne, Florida?
Families on the Space Coast often start the search for assisted living with a simple question: what will it cost each month? Brevard County has long attracted retirees, and it has a wide range of senior living options, from small homes to large communities. Prices vary just as widely. This guide uses the latest survey data for the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area, explains what drives a quote at any single community, and offers a practical way to plan.
The 2025 numbers for Brevard County
CareScout, which runs the long-standing Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey, reports costs by metro area. Melbourne is part of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro, which covers Brevard County. CareScout's 2025 medians are (CareScout Cost of Care tool):
| Type of care (Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, 2025) | Median monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Assisted living, private one-bedroom | $5,925 |
| Home health aide, 44 hours a week | $6,149 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $10,129 |
| Nursing home, private room | $13,596 |
The CareScout tool shows the area's assisted living median up about 1 percent from the prior year, a modest change. For comparison, Florida's 2025 statewide median for assisted living was $5,610 a month, and the national median was $6,200 (Genworth and CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey summary).
So Brevard's median sits about $315 a month above the Florida figure and a little below the national one. Over a year, $5,925 a month comes to about $71,100.
A median is a benchmark, not a quote
The median is the midpoint of the communities surveyed. Half charge more and half charge less. These figures are not prices from any one community, including Hibiscus Court. Use them to plan, and ask each community you consider for written rates.
Home care costs about the same
In Brevard, 44 hours a week of home care has a median of $6,149 a month, slightly more than the assisted living median, and that is before housing, food, and utilities. For a parent who needs many hours of help, assisted living can be the more economical choice. Our guide to assisted living versus in-home care costs in Melbourne works through the math.
What shapes an individual quote
The suite
Size, layout, and whether a suite is private or shared all affect the base rent. Ask about bathrooms, kitchenettes, and views.
The level of care
Most communities assess each new resident and set a care level based on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, and medications. Rates rise as care needs grow.
Memory care
Residents living with dementia usually need more supervision and staff time, so memory care typically costs more. See our guide to memory care costs in Melbourne.
What is included
Ask whether meals, housekeeping, laundry, medication help, transportation, and activities are included or billed separately.
Fees
Some communities charge a one-time community fee. Ask up front.
What assisted living usually includes
- A private or shared suite
- Three meals a day and snacks
- Help with bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Medication assistance
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Activities and outings
- Staff available around the clock
A simple way to budget
- Add up monthly income: Social Security, pensions, military retirement, and annuities.
- List savings and assets, including the home.
- Subtract income from the expected monthly cost to find the gap.
- Divide savings by the gap to see how long they last.
- Leave room for rate increases and growing needs.
For example, a retired aerospace engineer with $3,400 a month in pension and Social Security income, looking at a community near the $5,925 median, would face a gap of about $2,525 a month. With $120,000 in savings, that would last close to four years.
Rate increases in Florida
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration notes in its consumer guide that assisted living facilities must give residents advance written notice, at least 30 days, before a rate increase (AHCA, Assisted Living in Florida guide, PDF). Ask each community how often it has raised rates and by how much.
Help with paying
Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program can cover assisted living services for eligible people, though not room and board (Florida Department of Elder Affairs, SMMC LTC program). Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance. Our guide to paying for assisted living in Melbourne explains each option.
Comparing quotes side by side
With quotes from two or three communities, line up the base rent, the care charge for your parent's likely level, any one-time fees, and the extras your parent would actually use. A higher base rate that includes medication help and transportation can cost less overall than a lower rate with many add-ons.
Costs beyond the monthly rate
Budget, too, for personal expenses the rate may not cover: prescriptions and copays, hearing aids and glasses, clothing, toiletries, salon visits, and phone service. These are modest compared with the monthly rate, but they add up over a year. Ask each community for a list of common extra charges so there are no surprises on the first bill.
Hurricane season and cost
On the Space Coast, it is reasonable to ask how a community prepares for storms and whether there are any added charges if residents must evacuate or shelter in place. Florida rules require assisted living facilities to have an alternate power source able to keep indoor temperatures at or below 81 degrees for at least 96 hours after a power loss (Fla. Admin. Code R. 59A-36.025).
Start before you need to
A fall or a hospital stay at a Melbourne hospital can force a decision in days. Families who look early have time to compare, involve their parent, and line up benefits such as VA support or Medicaid, which can take months.
Questions to ask for an accurate quote
- What is the monthly rate for each suite type?
- How is the care level assessed and priced?
- What costs extra?
- Is there a community fee?
- How much have rates risen in recent years?
- Do you accept SMMC Long-Term Care plans or long-term care insurance?
Talk with Hibiscus Court
Hibiscus Court is at 540 East Hibiscus Boulevard in Melbourne and offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Please call (321) 447-2934 for current availability and pricing, or contact us to plan a visit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Melbourne, FL?
CareScout's 2025 survey reports a median of $5,925 a month for assisted living in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area. Individual communities may charge more or less.
Is Brevard County more expensive than the Florida average?
Slightly. The Brevard median of $5,925 a month is about $315 above Florida's 2025 statewide median of $5,610, and below the national median of $6,200.
How much notice must a Florida assisted living facility give before raising rates?
Florida's AHCA guide says facilities must give at least 30 days' written notice before a rate increase.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Florida?
Florida's SMMC Long-Term Care program can cover assisted living services for eligible people, but not room and board.