Care homes in Rhineland-Palatinate: cheap care, costly living
Rhineland-Palatinate has the lowest care part of any state. Why the co-payment still falls slowly and long-term residents pay more than elsewhere.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
Monthly co-payment, Rhineland-Palatinate
€3,289
in month 1, supplement 15 %
| Care (EEE) after supplement | €1,501 |
|---|---|
| Board and lodging | €1,280 |
| Investment costs | €508 |
| Fund pays the home | €1,584 |
| Monthly gap after pension | €1,689 |
| Savings last until the protected amount | 19 months |
| Co-payments over the next 36 months | €107,812 |
| Year 1 (15 %) | €3,289 |
|---|---|
| Year 2 (30 %) | €3,024 |
| Year 3 (50 %) | €2,671 |
| Year 4 (75 %) | €2,230 |
Step-by-step calculation
- vdek average for Rhineland-Palatinate on 1 July 2026: EEE €1,766 (incl. training levy €145), board and lodging €1,280, investment costs €508.
- Month 1 in the home: supplement 15 % of the EEE = €264.90 (section 43c).
- Co-payment = €1,501.10 + €1,280 + €508 = €3,289.10.
Estimate using the 2026 amounts in Book XI of the Social Code. Only the decision letter from your Pflegekasse is binding. How we calculate
On 1 July 2026 Rhineland-Palatinate had the lowest uniform care co-payment (EEE) of all German states: €1,766 a month before the supplement, against €2,088 nationally (vdek). Board and lodging, by contrast, are the second-highest in Germany after North Rhine-Westphalia at €1,280, and investment costs are €508. In the first year of residence that makes €3,289 a month, rank 8 of 16, mid-table. But the care fund’s supplement only reduces the care part, which is small here. The co-payment therefore only falls to €2,230 by year four, rank 4 for long-term residents. Accommodation, meals and the building together cost €1,788 a month and are never subsidised. The first three years together cost about €107,812. Since January 2026 the first-year co-payment has risen by €67, less than in most states.
Four years in Rhineland-Palatinate and nationally
| Year | Supplement | Rhineland-Palatinate | Germany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 % | €3,289 | €3,364 | -€75 |
| 2 | 30 % | €3,024 | €3,051 | -€26 |
| 3 | 50 % | €2,671 | €2,633 | €38 |
| 4 | 75 % | €2,230 | €2,111 | €119 |
The table reverses the usual picture: in year one Rhineland-Palatinate is below the national average, from year three above it. The burden therefore barely eases over time, unlike in most other states. When planning savings, run the calculator over many months rather than extrapolating from the first year. For relatives abroad who expect to support a parent for a long time, this is the figure to plan around.
What matters when choosing a home
Because board and lodging weigh so much here at €1,280, comparing that line between homes pays off. It depends on room size, single or double room and catering. A €150 difference in accommodation applies in full every month; the same difference in the care part shrinks to a quarter by year four. Investment costs are explained separately; for neighbouring states see Hesse and Saarland.