How Much Does Aged Care Cost in Toowoomba? (2026 Fees)
_Written by Tim Fanning, Financial Adviser and Director, Fanning Gouldson Financial Planning, Toowoomba. Accredited in aged care advice and SMSF. Authorised Representative No. 001306363. Last updated 13 August 2026._
The short answer: Every person entering residential aged care pays the basic daily care fee of $66.80 per day (about $24,382 a year). On top of that, means-tested contributions of up to $129.47 per day may apply, plus an accommodation cost — and at Toowoomba homes, published room prices currently range from around $325,000 to over $1 million. However, what you actually will pay depends on your assets, your income and the home you choose.
What is the basic daily care fee?
The basic daily care fee is $66.80 per day, or roughly $24,382 a year. This fee is based off 85% of the full single Age Pension (important to note this isn't specific to your Age Pension). Every resident must pay this fee when in aged care and the cost is reviewed every six months and usually moves with the full single Age Pension.
The current rate is published in the Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential Care.
How does the accommodation payment work?
The accommodation fee is the one that varies most between homes, and it depends on your assets and income as some people are not required to pay this at all.
If you are required to pay this, you may either have to pay a Refundable Accommodation Deposit or Contribution, which is like buying the room (however recent rules have changed to ensure the facility may keep some). There is also an option like renting the room by paying the Daily Accommodation Payment or Contribution. The cost of this one is determined by a Maximum Permissible Interest Rate, which changes — it is currently 8.43%. You can also pay a combination of both.
What does a room cost in Toowoomba?
This is the part that genuinely differs by location. Published maximum room prices at Toowoomba homes currently sit anywhere from $325,000 to over $1,000,000, however this can change. As a guide, the following ranges were published by these Toowoomba homes at the time of writing:
Providers must publish their room prices on My Aged Care and their own website, and the amount is sometimes negotiable before you sign the accommodation agreement. Prices are set by each provider and change over time, so current prices should always be confirmed directly with the home and at myagedcare.gov.au.
What is the means-tested care fee?
The third fee is again depending on your assets and income. It is called your means-tested care fee, however it has two components — the Hotelling contribution and the Non-Clinical Care Contribution.
For people entering care under the current arrangements, the Hotelling contribution is up to $22.15 per day and the Non-Clinical Care Contribution is up to $107.32 per day. The Non-Clinical Care Contribution is capped at a lifetime limit of $137,917.01, or four years, whichever comes first. These calculations are quite complicated and smart financial planning can reduce these considerably.
What is the Higher Everyday Living Fee?
The last fee is the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF). This is an optional fee that provides the resident with premium lifestyle extras and luxury upgrades. This could be internet, Foxtel, newspapers or upgraded food and beverages.
Why respite and your date of entry matter
Whilst these things are best planned for before they are needed, it is important to understand that respite is an option to ensure you can structure your assets correctly before officially entering the facility.
Your date of entry is not always your first day in care — it is the day your assets and income are formally assessed. Entering through respite first can therefore buy you time to get things structured properly before that assessment locks in. This is one of the most overlooked parts of aged care planning and it can make a substantial difference to what you end up paying.
Getting the timing right
These fees are all quite complicated and should be considered with a financial adviser before it is required. With the right planning, you may be able to avoid or reduce some of the costs, or be able to retain assets that you think you might have to sell, like the family home. The perfect time to start having these conversations is before you are forced to, however it is not too late for some planning if you or a loved one is currently in care. Learn more about our aged care advice services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is counted as income?
This depends on how the income is produced, as some assets are assessed using deeming rates and some are counted as straight income.
Do I need to sell my house to move into aged care?
Not necessarily, however it is a possibility. There are some considerations that can be made to keep the house or have it excluded from the means testing. There are also rules around exempting the home from Age Pension calculations.
What is respite?
Respite is a way for the resident to enter aged care without having the above assessments done, and therefore allows them to push their date of entry back before officially entering care. They can enter care whilst in respite to allow time to structure their assets.
What is the date of entry?
The date of entry is not always the first day in care, but rather the day on which your assets and income are considered for assessment. This is why it is vital to have assets and income structured beforehand.
Is aged care more expensive in Toowoomba than other places?
The fees themselves are set federally and are identical across Australia. What varies is the accommodation price, and Toowoomba room prices generally sit below those in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
General Advice Disclaimer
The information in this article and the links has been prepared for general information purposes only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not intended to provide commercial, financial, investment, accounting, tax or legal advice. You should, before you make any decision regarding any information, strategies, or products mentioned in this article, consult a professional financial adviser to consider whether it is suitable and appropriate for you and your personal needs and circumstances.
Fees, charges and thresholds referred to in this article are current as at 1 July 2026 and are indexed regularly. Accommodation prices are set by individual providers and change over time. Please confirm current rates before making any decisions.
Fanning Gouldson Financial Planning Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 001322660) and Timothy James Fanning is an Authorised Representative (No. 001306363) of Spark Advisors Australia Pty Ltd ABN 34 122 486 935 AFSL 380552.
More Articles
How Much Does a Financial Adviser Cost in Toowoomba?
What a financial adviser costs in Toowoomba — what is free, and how the fee is quoted upfront.
Read moreWelcome to the Fanning Gouldson Blog
We're launching our blog to share plain-English financial insights, tips, and updates to help you make confident decisions about your financial future.
Read more