Home care costs in Essex
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 448 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Essex, East of England, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. 22 have an hourly rate on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical weekday hourly rate in Essex is £27, so two one-hour visits a day comes to about £378 a week. The middle half of agencies charge between £24 and £30 an hour. That is close to the East of England average of £27.98. That is close to the England figure of £27.
Live-in care in Essex typically costs £1,675 a week, based on 24 agencies with a rate on record. Once you need more than about 35 hours a week it is usually cheaper than visits.
Of the agencies with a published rate, ECare Community in Colchester is the least expensive at £15.50 an hour and SureCare Colchester & Braintree in Colchester the most at £60. A gap that size within one council area is normal: visit length, whether carers are employed or self-employed, and what the visit involves all move the price.
Compare with a carer you choose through PrimeCarers
About £378 a week for two one-hour visits a day
Live-in care £1,675 a week
A self-employed carer you chooseTypically £20, about £280 a week for the same visits
Your own carer could cost about £98 a week less, £5,096 over a year
Live-in care near Essex typically £1,120 a week.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check within the last 2 years, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Least expensive home care agencies in Essex
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your own carer through PrimeCarers For comparison. Self-employed, they set their own rate | Near Essex | Not an agency | £18 | 33% below |
| ECare Community Dementia | Colchester | CQC: Good | £15.50 | 43% below |
| KSS Home Care Limited Live-in £1,100/wk | Colchester | CQC: Not yet rated | £22 | 19% below |
| MTS Healthcare Dementia · Live-in £1,100/wk | Basildon | CQC: Not yet rated | £23 | 15% below |
| Canvey Island Dementia · Live-in £1,199/wk | Canvey Island | CQC: Good | £23 | 15% below |
| E2K Care | Tiptree | CQC: Good | £24 | 11% below |
| KASE Care Dementia | Loughton | CQC: Good | £24 | 11% below |
| Caronne Care Essex Branch Dementia | Basildon | CQC: Good | £24.50 | 9% below |
| Darem Healthcare Ltd | Witham | CQC: Not yet rated | £25 | 7% below |
Most expensive home care agencies in Essex
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SureCare Colchester & Braintree Dementia | Colchester | CQC: Good | £60 | 122% above |
| Together Care Dementia | Basildon | CQC: Good | £33 | 22% above |
| The Care Professionals (Essex) Ltd Dementia | Dunmow | CQC: Not yet rated | £32 | 19% above |
| PCM Homecare Limited Dementia | Colchester | CQC: Good | £32 | 19% above |
| Forest Homecare Limited Dementia · Live-in £2,500/wk | Halstead | CQC: Outstanding | £32 | 19% above |
| Wilson's Care Dementia · Live-in £1,300/wk | Chelmsford | CQC: Good | £31 | 15% above |
| BlowingPoint Care Dementia | Waltham Abbey | CQC: Good | £30 | 11% above |
| Riverstone Healthcare Partners Dementia | Chigwell | CQC: Good | £29 | 7% above |
“From” is the lowest weekday hourly rate the agency has published or confirmed to us, dated on each agency’s page. Agencies that add or correct a rate appear here within the day.
How Essex compares with nearby areas
Worth knowing: agencies based in these areas often cover Essex too.
| Council area | Hourly, weekdays | Live-in, a week | Agencies with rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | £27 | £1,675 | 22 |
| Southend-on-Sea | £23 | £1,663 | 5 |
| Havering | £22 | £1,375 | 5 |
| Thurrock | £25 | 4 | |
| Redbridge | £25 | £1,050 | 5 |
| Barking and Dagenham | £22.50 | £1,145 | 6 |
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Essex pays the carer, the office that plans the rota, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. Weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, short visits cost more per hour, and some agencies add mileage for visits far from the office.
Ask for the full price list: weekday and weekend rates, the shortest visit they do, and the cancellation terms. Rates are reviewed once a year, usually in April.
Who pays in Essex
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Essex council assesses what you can contribute; your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own agency or carer.
People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole cost at home.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, direct payments and Continuing Healthcare at home.
Agency or your own carer in Essex?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates, against the typical Essex agency rate of £27. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is typically £1,120 a week near Essex.
Common questions
How much does home care in Essex cost an hour?
The typical home care agency in Essex charges £27 an hour on weekdays, and live-in care £1,675 a week, based on 22 agencies with a rate on record. Every agency page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does home care in Essex cost a week?
At £27 an hour, one visit a day is about £189 a week, two visits a day about £378, and three about £567. Live-in care is about £1,675 a week. Most agencies raise rates once a year, in April.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Essex?
ECare Community in Colchester has the lowest published rate we hold for Essex, from £15.50 an hour. The full table on this page lists every agency with a rate on record, cheapest first.
Will Essex council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Essex council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the cost. The value of your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and spend it with the agency or carer you choose; if they charge more than the council's rate you pay the difference. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is a self-employed carer cheaper than an agency in Essex?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour against the typical Essex agency rate of £27, and live-in care is typically £1,120 a week near Essex. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked October 2026.