Memory Care Costs in South Carolina: 2026 Pricing by Region

The phone call from the neurologist just confirmed what you suspected, and now the spreadsheet question hits: what does memory care actually cost in South Carolina, and how do you pay for it when your parent's retirement income barely covers the mortgage?

South Carolina does not issue a standalone memory care license. Every memory care unit operates inside a Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF) licensed under Regulation 61-84, and facilities set their own "memory care premium" on top of the standard assisted living base rate. That pricing opacity makes comparison shopping harder than it should be.

What Memory Care Actually Costs Across the State

The statewide average for a standard CRCF room runs approximately $5,200 per month, or $62,400 annually. Memory care units add a care-level premium — typically $1,500 to $2,500 per month — on top of that base, pushing total monthly costs to $6,700–$7,700 for most families.

Regional variation is significant:

• Charleston County: approximately $4,300/month for memory care settings
• Richland County (Columbia): approximately $4,074/month
• Horry County (Myrtle Beach): approximately $4,130/month
• Spartanburg County: approximately $3,836/month

These regional figures reflect base memory care rates. Many facilities layer additional charges — community fees ($2,000–$5,000 upfront), medication management surcharges, and tiered pricing as the resident's care needs increase. Always request a written breakdown of every fee before signing an admission agreement.

How These Compare to Other Care Settings

Nursing facility care costs substantially more — a semi-private nursing home room averages $8,958 per month ($107,492 annually), while private rooms run $9,536 per month ($114,428 annually). Home health aide care for 44 hours per week averages $5,720 per month ($68,640 annually).

For families weighing home care against facility placement, the cost comparison flips once a parent needs more than about 30 hours of weekly supervision. Below that threshold, home care is often cheaper. Above it, a memory care CRCF can be more cost-effective — and provides 24-hour monitoring that no part-time aide schedule can match.

What Medicaid Covers (and What It Doesn't)

South Carolina's Medicaid program, Healthy Connections, does not directly pay for CRCF-based memory care at the full private-pay rate. However, two pathways can offset costs:

The Community Choices Waiver covers home and community-based services including personal care, adult day health, and respite. It does not pay CRCF room and board, but it can fund the care services delivered inside a facility. The catch: a waiting list of over 15,000 people and wait times stretching years.

Optional State Supplementation (OSS) helps low-income residents in enrolled CRCFs with room and board. The 2026 income limit is $1,804 per month, with a maximum state payment of $1,719 to the facility. This is the closest thing to a Medicaid subsidy for assisted living in South Carolina.

For nursing home placement, Medicaid covers the full cost — but only if the applicant meets both the strict financial limits ($2,982 monthly income cap, $2,000 asset limit) and the clinical Nursing Facility Level of Care threshold.

How to Compare Facilities on Cost

When touring memory care facilities, bring this framework:

1. Get the all-in monthly cost in writing — base rate plus every surcharge, including medication management, incontinence supplies, and behavioral-care tiers
2. Ask about rate escalation — most facilities increase rates annually or when care needs change, and the increases are not regulated
3. Request the Alzheimer's Special Care Disclosure — any facility marketing specialized dementia care must provide this document under South Carolina law, detailing staffing, training, and care differences
4. Compare the cost per actual service hour — a facility charging $6,500/month with a 1:8 staff ratio during the day delivers less hands-on care than one charging $7,200 with a 1:5 ratio

The South Carolina Dementia & Memory Care Guide includes a facility tour worksheet with cost-comparison columns and a complete breakdown of every financial program available to South Carolina families.

See more South Carolina guides →