Care homes in Schleswig-Holstein: small care part, big building costs
Between the North Sea and the Baltic, care in a home costs little and the building a lot. Why the state is cheap in year one but only average in the long run.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
Monthly co-payment, Schleswig-Holstein
€3,148
in month 1, supplement 15 %
| Care (EEE) after supplement | €1,515 |
|---|---|
| Board and lodging | €1,060 |
| Investment costs | €573 |
| Fund pays the home | €1,586 |
| Monthly gap after pension | €1,548 |
| Savings last until the protected amount | 21 months |
| Co-payments over the next 36 months | €102,625 |
| Year 1 (15 %) | €3,148 |
|---|---|
| Year 2 (30 %) | €2,880 |
| Year 3 (50 %) | €2,524 |
| Year 4 (75 %) | €2,079 |
Step-by-step calculation
- vdek average for Schleswig-Holstein on 1 July 2026: EEE €1,782 (incl. training levy €76), board and lodging €1,060, investment costs €573.
- Month 1 in the home: supplement 15 % of the EEE = €267.30 (section 43c).
- Co-payment = €1,514.70 + €1,060 + €573 = €3,147.70.
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 Schleswig-Holstein had the second-lowest care part of all German states: €1,782 a month before the care fund’s supplement, including a nursing training levy of only €76, the lowest in Germany (vdek). Board and lodging cost €1,060, close to the national average, but investment costs are €573, well above the national €521. In the first year that makes €3,148 a month, rank 13 of 16 and one of the cheaper states. Because the supplement only reduces the small care part, the co-payment falls only to €2,079 by year four, when 79 % of it is accommodation, meals and investment. In neighbouring Hamburg the first-year co-payment starts at €3,481, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at €3,032. Since January 2026 it has risen in Schleswig-Holstein by €111.
How the co-payment is made up
| Year | Care part after supplement | Board and lodging | Investment costs | Co-payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €1,515 | €1,060 | €573 | €3,148 |
| 2 | €1,247 | €1,060 | €573 | €2,880 |
| 3 | €891 | €1,060 | €573 | €2,524 |
| 4 | €446 | €1,060 | €573 | €2,079 |
The table shows why Schleswig-Holstein loses its lead over time: the care part after the supplement shrinks each year while the two right-hand columns stay the same. From year four a resident pays more here than in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (€1,790), although only slightly more in year one.
Keep an eye on investment costs
Investment costs of €573 are where homes in Schleswig-Holstein differ most: new buildings near the coast are often far above, older inland homes below. Because the care fund never subsidises this part, ask for the exact figure when choosing. Investment costs explains how the item arises; the care home co-payment explains the whole bill.
For families from Hamburg looking just outside the city, this means a noticeable saving in year one but less over many years. If a long stay is likely, compare each home’s investment costs rather than relying on the state average, and ask whether the home plans renovation work that could push them up.