Assisted living in Maine provides long-term housing and personalized care for older adults who need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Communities in Portland and Bar Harbor, as well as in Bangor and Augusta, offer supportive services in settings that reflect the state’s coastal charm and natural beauty. Many seniors are drawn to Maine’s rocky shorelines, pine forests, and renowned seafood, along with its cooler summers and classic snowy winters. Residents can enjoy a quieter pace of life while staying engaged through local events and community activities. In 2026, the average cost of assisted living in Maine is $6,810 per month, or $81,720 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.
My wife and I have resided at Birch Bay for five years. For two years we lived in an apartment and have since owned a cottage here. As these places go, Birch Bay is small, with approximately 100 residents...
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
1) All questions were answered with knowledge and care when navigating the process as my mother in law became a resident. 2) The environment is cheerful and bright. 3) You see residents chatting in small...
The staff members at Birchwoods at Canco have been absolutely wonderful and very easy to work with. It has overall been a positive experience for my loved one and this is a place that I would recommend to...
Very nice facility. Very clean, a lot of activity's, the meals are great. The people who work there are wonderful. My sister has been there a year now. We are very happy with her care.
I've been very happy with Fallbrook. The staff is friendly and [name removed] said the food is good. Overall compared to other places I have seen, this is the best one for us. There is always room for...
The folks at the Grande were wonderful and the facility was great. Unfortunately my sister really missed her home and her friends. She did not stay for long but it was not the fault of the Grande or their...
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
Every thing has been good the staff is nice and polite all the time. The new chef is much better. My only issue happened when mom had some teeth removed the hoops I had to go through to get the proper dosage...
The staff is very accessible for communication needs. I feel very confident in being able to reach them at any time of day or night to ask for anything Mom needs. I live a half hour away but do not hesitate...
It is a very caring facility where I feel the staff from the cleaners to activities treat everyone with such kindness and feels like genuine relationships. I would not hesitate to recommend. Has a...
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
1) All questions were answered with knowledge and care when navigating the process as my mother in law became a resident. 2) The environment is cheerful and bright. 3) You see residents chatting in small...
I really like the other owners and the diversity of interests. There are many activities, the food is good, and our house is lovely. We had a few communication issues at the beginning, but we did move in...
Our mother fought moving to assisted living for a long time. We searched many places and Sunnybrook, in Brunswick, Maine proved the most comfortable and welcoming right from the initial visit. She has been...
The average monthly cost of assisted living in Maine is $6,810 in 2026, which is about $2,060 more than the national average of $4,751, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This cost reflects room and board at our partner communities throughout the state; location, chosen floor plan, level of care, and amenities can affect the total cost.
Maine’s assisted living costs are in line with those of its New England neighbors. Massachusetts is around $500 more, while New Hampshire and Vermont are slightly less. Assisted living in Rhode Island costs about $1,500 less per month than it does in Maine. Prices vary throughout the state, with communities in the Portland area generally being more expensive. The capital city of Augusta offers about $800 in savings per month, and communities in the small, idyllic river town of Gardiner cost about $1,000 less per month than the state average.
Seniors who can live independently can find some savings in an independent living community in the state.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What’s the Difference?
Average monthly costs
Maine
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Maine | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $6,860/mo | $4,784/mo | 43.4% above national median |
| Memory Care | $6,877/mo | $5,056/mo | 36.0% above national median |
| Independent Living | $5,983/mo | $4,247/mo | 40.9% above national median |
Your loved one may be able to use a combination of private and public funding sources to cover the cost of assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. In the sections below, you’ll find a variety of ways to pay for assisted living costs in Maine. You can also learn more about payment resources by visiting our complete guide to paying for long-term care.
Most families in Maine use private pay options to cover the monthly costs of assisted living. Your loved one may be able to access money to pay for assisted living by selling their home or through a reverse mortgage. A health savings account (HSA) or long-term care insurance can also be used, as can Social Security benefits.
Veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible for a variety of benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that can help offset assisted living and long-term care costs. Veterans who are unsure about available benefits, their eligibility, or how to apply should contact a VA-accredited benefits counselor for guidance. The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services offers benefits counseling and general support at field offices throughout the state.
Read more: VA Benefits for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Guide for Veterans
Medicaid is joint program of federal and state governments designed to support people who have low incomes. Medicaid in Maine is known as MaineCare. For eligible residents, it can cover some care costs, such as medications, doctor’s visits, and certain services, but it won’t pay for room and board in assisted living.
In Maine, residents of assisted living communities aren’t eligible for the state’s home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs. However, the state’s regular Medicaid plan covers health and personal care services as part of its long-term care benefits.[02] To learn more about these benefits, call the MaineCare Member Services at 800-977-6740.
Medicare is a health insurance program that’s funded and managed by the federal government for people 65 and older. While Medicare won’t cover room and board costs in assisted living, it can be used to cover services and products that are part of a physician’s care plan, such as skilled nursing, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and more.[03]
Seniors in Maine can contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to access free and confidential Medicare benefit counseling.
Your loved one may be able to use a combination of private and public funding sources to cover the cost of assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. In the sections below, you’ll find a variety of ways to pay for assisted living costs in Maine. You can also learn more about payment resources by visiting our complete guide to paying for long-term care.
Most families in Maine use private pay options to cover the monthly costs of assisted living. Your loved one may be able to access money to pay for assisted living by selling their home or through a reverse mortgage. A health savings account (HSA) or long-term care insurance can also be used, as can Social Security benefits.
Veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible for a variety of benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that can help offset assisted living and long-term care costs. Veterans who are unsure about available benefits, their eligibility, or how to apply should contact a VA-accredited benefits counselor for guidance. The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services offers benefits counseling and general support at field offices throughout the state.
Read more: VA Benefits for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Guide for Veterans
Medicaid is joint program of federal and state governments designed to support people who have low incomes. Medicaid in Maine is known as MaineCare. For eligible residents, it can cover some care costs, such as medications, doctor’s visits, and certain services, but it won’t pay for room and board in assisted living.
In Maine, residents of assisted living communities aren’t eligible for the state’s home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs. However, the state’s regular Medicaid plan covers health and personal care services as part of its long-term care benefits.[02] To learn more about these benefits, call the MaineCare Member Services at 800-977-6740.
Medicare is a health insurance program that’s funded and managed by the federal government for people 65 and older. While Medicare won’t cover room and board costs in assisted living, it can be used to cover services and products that are part of a physician’s care plan, such as skilled nursing, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and more.[03]
Seniors in Maine can contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to access free and confidential Medicare benefit counseling.
A Place for Mom. (2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, Nov.). MaineCare Member Handbook.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, Sept.18). Assisted Housing Programs licensing rule part A: Assisted living facilities.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, Sept. 18). Assisted Housing Programs licensing rule part B: Residential care facilities.
Overview of assisted living in ME
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