If you’re researching what the basic daily fee for aged care is in 2026, the current maximum is $66.80 per day. This fee contributes towards everyday living expenses such as meals, cleaning and laundry and is set at 85% of the single person rate of the basic Age Pension. That works out to approximately $2,032 per month or $24,382 per year.
However, the basic daily fee is only one part of the overall aged care cost in Melbourne. Depending on your financial circumstances and the room you choose, there may also be contributions towards your care and accommodation costs. Below, we’ll break down the different aged care fees you could encounter and how they’re calculated to help you get a clearer idea of what you or your family may need to budget for.
Types of Aged Care Fees in Melbourne
There isn’t one set price for residential aged care in Melbourne. What you pay depends on when you enter care, your income and assets as assessed through the aged care means assessment, the aged care provider you choose and the agreed price of your room. For residents on the 1 November 2025 fee arrangements, Services Australia also uses the means assessment to determine whether a hotelling contribution or non-clinical care contribution applies.
The table below breaks down the main costs you may come across.
| Fee Type | What It Covers |
| Basic Daily Fee | A fee paid by every resident towards everyday living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry and facilities management. The maximum basic daily fee for aged care in 2026 is currently $66.80 per day. |
| Contribution from the Means Assessment | Residents on the 1 November 2025 fee arrangements may also pay means-tested contributions. The hotelling contribution goes towards everyday living services such as meals, cleaning and laundry and may apply when a resident’s income and/or assets are above the relevant thresholds. Residents who pay the full hotelling contribution may also need to pay a non-clinical care contribution, which goes towards services such as personal care, mobility assistance and lifestyle activities. The amount you pay is determined by Services Australia based on your income and assets. |
| Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) | A RAD is a lump-sum payment that goes towards the agreed price of your accommodation. At TriCare’s Williams Landing aged care residence in Melbourne, a single studio currently has a maximum RAD of $850,000. Different room types have different accommodation prices. |
| Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) | Instead of paying the accommodation price as a lump sum, you can pay it as an ongoing daily amount known as a DAP. At Williams Landing, the current maximum DAP for a single studio is $196.32 per day. |
| Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) | A HELF is an optional fee agreed upon for additional services beyond those required by an aged care home. You cannot be required to agree to a HELF before entering permanent residential aged care. |
Accommodation can make up a significant part of your overall aged care cost in Melbourne, with prices varying according to the room and residence you choose. TriCare Williams Landing offers well-appointed accommodation, fresh meals and 24/7 care from Registered Nurses and qualified carers. It’s worth looking at what’s included alongside the room price when comparing aged care costs.
Aged Care Accommodation Fees in Melbourne: RAD and DAP Explained
If you’re required to pay the full cost of your accommodation, you can generally choose how you pay it. Two of the main options are a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP). You can also use a combination of the two.
A RAD allows you to pay an agreed amount towards your accommodation as a lump sum. Under the accommodation arrangements introduced on 1 November 2025, retention amounts apply to eligible RAD balances during a resident’s stay, meaning part of the deposit is retained by the provider rather than refunded when the resident leaves.
A DAP allows you to pay for your accommodation through ongoing daily payments rather than providing the full lump sum upfront. For residents on the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements, DAPs are indexed twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September, in line with CPI.
You don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other. A combination payment lets you pay part of the accommodation price as a RAD and pay a reduced DAP on the remaining balance.
For example, TriCare’s Williams Landing Aged Care Residence in Melbourne currently lists its Single Studio at a maximum RAD of $850,000 or a maximum DAP of $196.32 per day.
TriCare also provides a combination example of a $425,000 RAD plus a $98.16 DAP for this room type. Other rooms at Williams Landing have different accommodation prices, so it’s important to check the price of the particular room you’re considering.
The best payment approach will depend on your personal financial circumstances, so consider getting independent financial advice before deciding how to pay your accommodation costs.
Residential Aged Care Funding in Melbourne
The Australian Government helps fund residential aged care through subsidies and supplements paid directly to registered aged care providers on behalf of eligible residents. The main funding model for permanent residential aged care is the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), which takes into account a resident’s care needs when determining the funding a provider receives.
There are several types of residential aged care funding available:
- Permanent residential aged care: Providers receive a daily basic subsidy for each eligible permanent resident through the AN-ACC funding model. This contributes to the cost of providing their care.
- Specialised status funding: Additional funding may be available to aged care homes that specialise in caring for particular groups of residents. Eligible providers receive a specialised Base Care Tariff under the AN-ACC.
- Palliative care funding: AN-ACC Class 1 funding may be available for eligible people who enter permanent residential aged care for planned palliative care.
- Respite care funding: The government pays subsidies and supplements to registered providers for eligible older people staying in residential aged care on a short-term respite basis.
These government subsidies help fund the care provided within Melbourne aged care homes, but they don’t necessarily cover every cost. Residents may still need to contribute towards their care, everyday living expenses and accommodation depending on their financial circumstances and the applicable fee arrangements.
Pricing Calculator for TriCare (Select Williams Landing Aged Care Facility in Melbourne)
Inclusions: automated bed, recliner chair, reverse cycle air-conditioning, wardrobe, space for personal small furniture items, wall mounted TV, emergency call system. All have direct access to a balcony, courtyard, or garden.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed and electric ceiling hoist, electric recliner chair, armchair for visitors, overbed table, dining table and chairs, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electric ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed and electric ceiling hoist, electric recliner chair, armchair for visitors, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electric ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: single or king-single bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, armchair, wall-mounted TV, wardrobe, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, armchair, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, ample storage, large TV, mini-fridge, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, space for personal small furniture items, wall mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: king-single automated bed, recliner chair, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, wall-mounted TV, armchair for visitors, ample storage, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single automated bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, armchair for visitors, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electronic ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, TV, space for personal small furniture items, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, wall-mounted TV, space for personal small furniture items, emergency call system.
Inclusions: a single or king-single automated bed, overbed table, reverse-cycle air conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, wall-mounted TV, wardrobe, and emergency call system
Inclusions: single or king-single automated bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, reverse-cycle air conditioning, wardrobe, armchair for visitors, wall-mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, individually climate-controlled air conditioning, armchair for visitors, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electric ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse-cycle air conditioning, ceiling fan, recliner, wall-mounted TV, space for personal small furniture items, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, wall-mounted TV, space for personal small furniture items, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, ample storage, armchair for visitors, wall-mounted TV, mini-fridge, ceiling hoist, emergency call system.
Inclusions: single bed, overbed table, individual reverse-cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, wardrobe, space for personal small furniture items, wall-mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: single bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, wardrobe, space for personal furniture items, wall-mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, wardrobe, space for personal small furniture items, wall-mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, ceiling fan, armchair, space for personal small furniture items, wall-mounted TV, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, ample storage, armchair for visitors, wall-mounted TV, mini-fridge, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, armchair for visitors, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, desk, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electronic ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, armchair for visitors, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, desk, emergency call system, electronic ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: single automated bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air-conditioning, wall-mounted TV, space for personal small furniture items, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated single bed, overbed table, reverse cycle air conditioning, ceiling fan, wall-mounted TV, space for personal small furniture items, and emergency call system.
Inclusions: king-single automated bed, recliner chair, overbed table, reverse cycle air conditioning, wall-mounted TV, armchair for visitors, ample storage, floor-to-ceiling windows, emergency call system.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner chair, overbed table, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, armchair for visitors, ample storage, large wall-mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, desk, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electronic ceiling hoist.
Inclusions: automated king-single bed, electric recliner chair, armchair for visitors, built-in desk space, individual climate-controlled air conditioning, ample storage, large-wall mounted TV, kitchenette stone benchtop and sink, mini-fridge, emergency call system, floor-to-ceiling windows, electronic ceiling hoist.
Download room pricing or contact 1300 874 2273 for more information.
Talk to TriCare Today
Understanding aged care costs can feel complicated when you’re planning care for yourself or an ageing parent.
Reach out to our aged care specialists to discuss your circumstances and receive guidance on what to do next, or visit our TriCare Aged Care Room Types and Pricing page to learn about how government funding such as AN-ACC contributes towards eligible care costs.
