How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Garden Grove, California?
Families in Garden Grove usually start their search for assisted living with one practical question: what will it cost? Orange County is not an inexpensive place to live, and senior care is no exception. The good news is that reliable survey data exists, and understanding it helps you plan with clear eyes. This guide uses 2025 figures from CareScout, which runs the long-standing Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey, to give you a realistic picture, then explains why individual quotes can vary so much.
The 2025 numbers for Garden Grove's metro area
CareScout reports costs by metropolitan area. Garden Grove falls within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, which includes Orange County. For that area, CareScout's 2025 medians are (CareScout Cost of Care tool):
| Type of care (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, 2025) | Median monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Assisted living, private one-bedroom | $6,600 |
| Home health aide, 44 hours a week | $7,245 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $10,707 |
| Nursing home, private room | $11,832 |
CareScout's tool shows the metro assisted living median down about 5 percent from the prior year. Statewide, California's 2025 median for assisted living was $7,000 a month, and the national median was $6,200 (Genworth and CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey summary).
So the metro median sits below the California figure, though above the national one. Annualized, $6,600 a month comes to about $79,200 a year.
Because the survey reports a single metro figure for a very large region, it does not break out Garden Grove or Orange County on their own. Treat it as a regional benchmark, not a city-specific price.
Why quotes in Orange County vary
Size and style of the setting
Orange County has two very different kinds of assisted living. There are larger communities with dozens or hundreds of apartments, dining rooms, and activity calendars. And there are small residential care homes, often called board and care homes, set in ordinary houses in neighborhoods like Garden Grove's, typically serving a handful of residents. In California, both are generally licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, which the California Department of Social Services describes as housing for people 60 and over where 24-hour non-medical care and supervision is provided (CDSS, resources for residents and families). Pricing structures differ between them, so compare carefully. Our article on board and care homes versus larger assisted living in Garden Grove explains the differences.
Private or shared room
A private room costs more than a shared room. Many small residential homes offer both.
Level of care
Most homes and communities assess each resident and price care according to the help needed with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, medications, and supervision. Needs related to dementia often add to the cost.
What is included
Ask whether the rate includes meals, laundry, housekeeping, medication help, incontinence supplies, and transportation, or whether any are extra.
What a monthly rate typically covers
- A private or shared room
- Meals and snacks
- Help with personal care and daily routines
- Medication assistance
- Housekeeping and laundry
- 24-hour staff presence
- Some activities and social time
Compare that with the cost of staying at home in Orange County, where housing, utilities, food, and in-home help all add up. At the 2025 metro median of $38 an hour for a home health aide, even part-time help is a significant expense. See our comparison of assisted living and in-home care costs in Garden Grove.
Comparing with nursing home costs
The same survey shows a semi-private nursing home room in the metro area at a median of $10,707 a month, and a private room at $11,832. Nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing care, which residential care homes for the elderly do not, so they serve different needs. For a parent who needs help with daily routines and supervision rather than daily medical care, assisted living or a residential care home is usually the less costly option and often a more home-like one.
Hidden costs to ask about
Even when a monthly rate looks straightforward, a few items can add up over a year:
- Incontinence supplies, which some homes include and others bill separately
- Special diets or texture-modified meals
- Escorts or transportation to medical appointments
- Pharmacy delivery or medication packaging fees
- Personal items such as toiletries, haircuts, and clothing
Ask each home for a written list of what is and is not included, so you can compare like with like.
Planning a budget
- Total your parent's monthly income from Social Security, pensions, and other sources.
- List savings and assets, including any home equity.
- Subtract income from expected monthly cost to find the gap.
- Ask how much rates have increased in recent years.
- Allow for care needs, and costs, to grow over time.
For example, a parent with $2,800 a month in income facing a cost near the metro median of $6,600 would have a monthly gap of about $3,800. Knowing that number early helps a family decide how to use savings and which benefits to explore.
Help with paying
- Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver is available in Orange County and can cover care services in participating residential care facilities for eligible people.
- VA pension with Aid and Attendance can help eligible veterans and surviving spouses.
- Long-term care insurance may pay a daily or monthly benefit.
Our guide to paying for assisted living in Orange County explains each option.
Questions to ask for an accurate quote
- What is the monthly rate for a private room, and for a shared room?
- How is the level of care assessed, and how does it affect the price?
- What is not included?
- Are there move-in or assessment fees?
- How often do rates change, and with how much notice?
Talk with Maureen Guest Home
Maureen Guest Home #2 is a residential care home at 9362 Maureen Drive in Garden Grove offering assisted living support and memory care conversations in a household setting. We do not publish prices online because each quote depends on the room and the support a resident needs. Call (714) 539-0391 or contact us to ask about current rates and openings. Visiting hours are from 9 to 5. We're open 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Garden Grove, CA?
CareScout's 2025 survey reports a median of $6,600 a month for assisted living in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, which includes Garden Grove. That is about $79,200 a year. The survey does not report a separate Garden Grove figure.
Is assisted living cheaper in Orange County than the California average?
The 2025 metro median of $6,600 a month was below the California statewide median of $7,000.
Are board and care homes less expensive than large assisted living communities?
Sometimes, but not always. Prices depend on room type, care needs, and what is included. Compare written quotes.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living in Garden Grove?
No. Medicare does not cover room, board, or ongoing personal care in assisted living. Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver may help eligible people with care costs in participating facilities.