Care home costs in Darlington
Weekly fees for 2026, from the homes that publish them. Updated as homes confirm their prices.
There are 31 care homes registered with the CQC in Darlington, North East. 1 has a weekly fee on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
Across the North East the typical residential care home fee is £1,157 a week, about £60,164 a year. Expect homes in Darlington to fall in a similar range until more of them publish their prices.
Nursing homes charge more because registered nurses are on site. Across the North East the typical nursing fee is £1,414 a week. The NHS pays a weekly contribution towards the nursing part of the fee, direct to the home.
Compare with a live-in carer at home through PrimeCarers
About £60,164 a year
For a couple, two places: £2,314 a week
Nursing care: £1,414 a week
A live-in carer, at homeThe typical live-in carer near Darlington, set by the carer
A similar price for one person. At home, the carer you choose looks after only you.
A couple can share one carer, about £1,355 a week, £959 a week less than two places.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Care homes in Darlington with a fee on record
| Care home | Town | CQC | From, a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| A live-in carer at home, PrimeCarers For comparison. One carer can look after a couple | Near Darlington | Not a care home | £1,100 |
| Willow Green Care Home Nursing · Dementia | Darlington | CQC: Good | £1,026 |
“From” is the lowest weekly figure the home has published or confirmed to us, dated on each home’s page. Homes that add or correct a fee appear here within the day.
How Darlington compares with nearby areas
| Council area | Residential, a week | Nursing, a week | Homes with fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Durham | £1,193 | £1,406 | 4 |
| Sunderland | £1,263 | £1,440 | 3 |
What the fee includes
A care home fee in Darlington normally covers the room, meals, laundry, heating and personal care. Nursing homes add care from registered nurses. Hairdressing, chiropody, trips out, newspapers and some toiletries are usually charged on top, so ask for the list of extras before you sign.
Larger rooms, en suites and garden views cost more. Fees are reviewed once a year, usually in April; ask what last year’s increase was.
Who pays in Darlington
If you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets you will normally pay the full fee yourself. Below that, Darlington council assesses what you can contribute. The value of your home counts unless a partner or certain relatives still live there.
If you need nursing care the NHS pays a weekly contribution direct to the home. People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole fee.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, NHS funded nursing care and Continuing Healthcare.
Care home or live-in care in Darlington?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers typically costs £1,100 a week near Darlington for one person and the same carer can look after a couple. The typical residential fee in the North East is £1,157 a week per person, so for a couple live-in care is usually far cheaper than two care home places. Complex live-in care, for higher needs, is typically about £1,344 a week.
36 live-in carers within about an hour of Darlington
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £970 to £1,230 a week. 35 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.
Common questions
How much does a care home in Darlington cost a week?
We do not yet have three published fees in Darlington, so the best guide is the the North East figure of £1,157 a week for residential care and £1,414 for nursing care. Ask each home for a written quote.
How much does a care home in Darlington cost a year?
At £1,157 a week a year in a residential care home comes to about £60,164, and nursing care about £73,528. Most homes raise fees once a year, usually in April.
What is the cheapest care home in Darlington?
Willow Green Care Home in Darlington has the lowest published fee we hold for Darlington, from £1,026 a week (residential care). The full table on this page lists every home with a fee on record, cheapest first.
Will Darlington council pay for my care home?
If your savings and assets are below £23,250, Darlington council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the fee. Councils pay a set rate; if the home you choose charges more, a relative or friend may need to pay a top-up. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in Darlington?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers typically costs £1,100 a week near Darlington, and complex care about £1,344. Against the typical the North East residential fee of £1,157 it is similar or a little more for one person, and for a couple it is usually much cheaper because one carer looks after both.
Fees last checked October 2026.