The cost of an elderly care home in Hong Kong is not a single number. A subsidised place in a contract home costs the resident HK$2,060 a month; a private single room with high-level nursing care can cost HK$25,000 or more. The gap is enormous, and which side of it you fall on depends less on the home you pick and more on how the place is funded. This guide breaks down the four real price tiers you will encounter, using actual fees from homes in our directory.
The four price tiers
Hong Kong elderly residential care fees fall into four distinct tiers, each tied to a different funding mechanism. Understanding which tier applies to your situation is the single most important step in budgeting.
| Funding tier | Typical monthly cost (resident) | Who pays this |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidised (subvented / contract) | HK$1,660 – HK$2,060 | Eligible elders on the Central Waiting List |
| EBPS / NHPPS (bought place) | HK$1,656 – HK$2,060 resident fee | Eligible elders placed in a private home via the scheme |
| RCSV voucher | Means-tested co-payment (varies) | Eligible elders who choose to use a voucher at a participating home |
| Private / unsubsidised | HK$8,000 – HK$30,000+ | Anyone; the home's published private fees apply in full |
Private fees: room type and care level drive the price
Private home fees vary primarily by two factors: room type and care level. A single room costs substantially more than a shared room, and high-care (高度護理) places cost more than low-care (低度護理) places at the same home. A typical care-and-attention home with published room-level pricing might charge HK$12,000 for a single room with low care, HK$13,800 for medium care, and HK$15,000 for high care — while a shared 3–4 person room at the same home might start at HK$6,500.
Subsidised fees are set centrally
If you receive a subsidised place — whether subvented, contract, EBPS or NHPPS — the resident fee is not set by the home. It is set centrally by the Social Welfare Department and is the same across all participating homes for the same scheme and care level. As of 2024–25, the subsidised resident fee ranges from HK$1,656 (EBPS EA2) to HK$2,060 (NHPPS / contract). This is one of the most important facts to understand: the subsidised fee does not vary by home, only by scheme and care level.
The RCSV voucher: a different payment model
The Residential Care Service Voucher works differently from a flat subsidised fee. The government pays the home a voucher value (HK$16,435 per month as of 2024–25), and the resident pays a means-tested co-payment based on household income. Lower-income residents pay a smaller share; higher-income residents pay more. Because the voucher value is fixed and the co-payment is graduated, the resident's actual out-of-pocket cost can range widely. Crucially, the HK$16,435 figure is what the government pays — it is not what the resident pays, and you should never compare it directly to a private monthly fee.
How to use this directory
Our directory shows you the offer that matches your search. If you filter for a private single room under HK$18,000, each card shows that home's private single-room fee — never its subsidised minimum. If you filter for subsidised places, the card shows the subsidised resident fee. This is deliberate: comparing a HK$2,060 subsidised fee to a HK$18,000 private fee tells you nothing useful about either option.
Compare elderly care homesFrequently asked questions
What is the cheapest type of elderly care home place in Hong Kong?
A subsidised place is the cheapest: the resident fee is set by the government at HK$1,656–2,060 per month depending on the scheme (subvented, contract, EBPS or NHPPS). However, subsidised places are means-tested and, for most schemes, require joining the Central Waiting List, where waits can be long. Private places, by contrast, are available immediately but cost HK$8,000–30,000+ per month.
Does the subsidised fee vary between homes?
No. For subsidised places (subvented, contract, EBPS, NHPPS), the resident fee is set centrally by the Social Welfare Department and is identical across all participating homes for the same scheme and care level. The home cannot charge a different subsidised fee. The RCSV voucher is different: the government pays a fixed voucher value and the resident pays a means-tested co-payment, which varies by the resident's income, not by the home.