What aged care costs in Darwin
Three parts: the room, the basic daily fee every resident pays, and contributions that depend on income and assets. We have no published room prices for Darwin homes yet, so this page focuses on the fees; the fees are national and as at 20 September 2026.
How much does an aged care home cost in Darwin?
Every resident pays the basic daily fee of $68.93 a day (as at 20 September 2026), the same everywhere in Australia. The room is the part that varies by area. We have no published room prices for Darwin homes in our data, so we can't give a typical figure; ask each home for its price list. Depending on income and assets, some residents also pay means-tested contributions.
- Basic daily fee
- $68.93
- Every resident, as at 20 September 2026
- Published room prices we have
- 0
- Ask each home for its list
- Non-clinical care contribution cap
- $109.45
- A day, new residents, as at 20 September 2026
Published room prices in Darwin
For a wider view, the 99 published prices in our national list have a median of $570,000. Prices in Darwin may differ.
None of the 4 homes in our Darwin list has a published price in our data. Homes must publish their room prices on My Aged Care and their own website, and a home may publish several, one for each type of room. We don't have a date for every published price and homes change them, so confirm the current figure. Ask for the full list, and for the price of the room actually on offer. See every Darwin home we list, with star ratings.
The fees on top of the room
These are set nationally, so they are the same in Darwin as anywhere else. Which ones apply depends on when the person moved in and on an income and assets assessment by Services Australia.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| Basic daily fee | $68.93 a day ($25,159 a year), as at 20 September 2026 | Every resident |
| Hotelling contribution | Up to $22.15 a day, as at 20 September 2026. No annual or lifetime cap. | Residents who moved in from 1 November 2025, depending on income and assets |
| Non-clinical care contribution | Up to $109.45 a day, as at 20 September 2026. Stops after 4 years or once $140,652.80 has been paid, whichever comes first. | Residents who moved in from 1 November 2025, depending on income and assets |
| Lump-sum retention | The home keeps 2% of a lump-sum room payment each year, for up to 5 years (rule in force since 1 November 2025). | Residents who moved in from 1 November 2025 and pay a lump sum |
| Means-tested care fee | Capped at $37,055.98 a year and $88,934.57 over a lifetime, as at 20 September 2026 | Residents who moved in on or before 31 October 2025, depending on income and assets |
For people who moved in from 1 November 2025, clinical care such as nursing is fully paid for by the government. People with low means pay less for the room or nothing, and the government pays the home up to $73.73 a day towards it (as at 20 September 2026). Some homes also offer optional extra services, such as premium meals or a larger room, which must be agreed in writing.
General information only, not financial advice. How to pay for the room, whether to sell the family home and the effect on the pension are decisions for a licensed financial adviser or Services Australia's free Financial Information Service. For the full picture see how aged care fees work, or try the fee estimator. Sources: schedule of fees and charges, My Aged Care.
Questions about costs in Darwin
How much is a room in a Darwin aged care home?
We have no published prices for Darwin homes, so we can't give a typical figure. Homes must publish their room prices on My Aged Care and their own website; ask each home on your shortlist for its full list.
Is the basic daily fee higher in Darwin?
No. It is set by the government at 85% of the single basic Age Pension: $68.93 a day, or $25,159 a year (as at 20 September 2026), in every home in Australia. It changes each 20 March and 20 September. What varies in Darwin is the room price.
Do we have to pay the room price as a lump sum?
No. You can pay a refundable lump sum, a daily payment, or a mix. A home can't ask you to choose how to pay before you move in. You can pay a refundable lump sum, in full or in part, any time after moving in once the means assessment is finalised; until then the room is paid by daily payments. The daily payment is the room price multiplied by the government interest rate, 8.51% (as at 1 October 2026), divided by 365. Which suits a family is a financial decision; talk to a licensed financial adviser or Services Australia's free Financial Information Service.
What if Mum can't afford the room prices in Darwin?
If her assets are under $66,500 (as at 20 September 2026) and her income is limited, the government pays some or all of the room cost, and the home cannot ask her for the full price. Services Australia works this out from an income and assets assessment. Ask homes in Darwin whether they have a room available for a supported resident.