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San Diego senior living guide

The cost of assisted living in San Diego

Plan with a clearer picture of care costs in San Diego. Compare 2025 benchmarks, learn what a monthly rate may include and find questions to ask about current pricing.

See Novellus Clairemont

A monthly rate is only part of the picture. Understanding the residence, daily services and care included can help your family compare options with more confidence. Use the figures below as a starting point, then ask for a quote based on individual needs.

What care costs in the San Diego area

Type of care2025 monthly median, San Diego area
Assisted living community$6,820
In-home caregiver, 44 hours a week$7,627
Nursing home, shared room$12,319
Nursing home, private room$16,729

Area figures: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, monthly medians for the San Diego metropolitan area. Saga starting prices as of October 2026. Prices change, so confirm current rates with the community.

For comparison, the national median for an assisted living community is $6,200 a month.

What a monthly rate usually covers

Assisted living rates usually bundle the costs a senior pays separately at home. Before you compare numbers, check that you are comparing the same things:

  • Your residence and utilities
  • Meals, often three a day
  • Housekeeping and laundry
  • Activities and scheduled transportation
  • Help with daily routines and medication management
  • Staff on site 24 hours a day

Assisted living at Novellus Clairemont

Novellus Clairemont is a Saga assisted living community on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, close to Kearny Mesa, Bay Park and Linda Vista. Rates start at $2,935 a month for a studio, as of October 2026. Meals, housekeeping, utilities and the full activity calendar are included, and your rate depends on the residence you choose and the care each person needs. Ask the team about any one-time community fee.

Novellus Clairemont is licensed by the California Department of Social Services as a residential care facility for the elderly, RCFE License #374604722.

Questions to ask about cost

  • What exactly does the monthly rate include, and what costs extra?
  • Is there a one-time community fee?
  • How does the rate change if care needs change?
  • How often are rates reviewed?
  • Is there a second-person rate for couples?

Our tour checklist covers more, and paying for senior living explains how families plan for the cost.

Ways families pay

Medicare does not pay for room, board or personal care in assisted living. Most families use savings and income, the sale of a home, long-term care insurance or VA Aid and Attendance benefits. Some low-income seniors in California may qualify for the state's Assisted Living Waiver, which is available only at participating communities, so ask each community whether it takes part.

In San Diego

Assisted living in Clairemont

Novellus Clairemont, a few miles from the coast, with a courtyard of shaded gazebos under tall palms.

Questions

San Diego assisted living costs: common questions

How much does assisted living cost in San Diego?

CareScout's 2025 survey puts the median for an assisted living community in the San Diego area at $6,820 a month. Prices vary with the residence, the care each person needs and what is included.

What does Novellus Clairemont cost?

Rates at Novellus Clairemont start at $2,935 a month for a studio. Your rate depends on the residence you choose and the care each person needs. Ask the team about any one-time community fee.

Does Medicare pay for assisted living in California?

No. Medicare does not pay for room, board or personal care in assisted living. Families often use savings, the sale of a home, long-term care insurance or VA Aid and Attendance benefits.

What should I ask about cost on a tour?

Ask what the monthly rate includes, whether there is a one-time community fee, how the rate changes if care needs change, how often rates are reviewed, and what costs extra.

Schedule a tour

Come see it for yourself.

Choose the kind of visit that suits you. No pressure, no commitment.

  • In-person tourMeet the team, explore the community and see a residence during your visit.
  • Virtual tourA live video walk-through for family who live out of town.
  • Come for lunchJoin us for lunch, meet a few neighbors and get a feel for daily life.

What to expect: Plan for 30 to 60 minutes to meet the team, see the community and ask questions. Allow more time if you join us for a meal.

Schedule a tour

Pick a day and time that works for you, and the community team will confirm it.

Prefer to talk first? Call the community directly.

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