Clear, Transparent Pricing — Because You Deserve to Know the True Cost of Care.”
Home Carers offers straightforward pricing starting at $53.97 per hour, with loyalty discounts and referral rewards. No hidden charges, no long-term contracts — just compassionate care when you need it.
Why Transparent Pricing Matters
Many providers advertise “from” rates, only to add hidden fees, minimum hours, or rigid contracts later. At Home Carers, we keep things simple:
- Prices clearly stated, starting from $53.97 + gst p/hr
- Loyalty Discounts: Save 5–10% when booking 3–6 months in advance
- Referral Rewards: 10% discount off your 1st invoice
- No locked in contracts or red tape
Hidden Costs in Facility Care (Comparison)
Table: Home Carers vs Rest Home / Retirement Facility
Care Option | Weekly Cost | What’s Included | Hidden Costs |
Home Carers | From $98 p/wk (2hrs) | Home Help, Flexible scheduling | None — travel, reporting, and admin included |
Rest Homes | From $1,500 + p/wk | Room, meals, some care support | Extra charges for hospital visits, outings, personal items, therapies |
Retirement Villages | Purchase price from $659,000 + $175.83 weekly fees | Accommodation, community facilities | Ongoing fees, resale loss, limited personal care |
Hospital-Level Care | From $2,000 + p/wk | 24/7 nursing support | Loss of independence, shared rooms, long waitlists |
Home Carers vs Other Home Care Agencies
Rather than quoting their prices (which change), we compare what typically adds cost or reduces flexibility.
Feature | Home Carers | Typical Agencies |
Contracts / lock‑ins | No contracts | Fixed terms/common |
Assessment Fee | Free | Often $150 - $200+ |
Setup fee | $197+ gst | Often $200+ |
Travel/mileage | First 15km incl (then at IRD rates) | Per‑km + per‑shift charges |
Weekend/PH surcharges | Clearly stated upfront | Often complex/variable |
Cancellation terms | Cancel any time | Strict notice periods |
Continuity of carer | High priority | Lower (larger rosters) |
Short‑notice support | Yes, responsive | Limited / extra fees |
Local ownership | Christchurch & Tauranga | Often national chains |
Overnight support | 12 hours (8pm - 8am) | 8 hours (10pm - 6am) |
Carer Support | We pay our Carers Fairly | Carers often under-paid |
Smart + Fast Communications | We provide real time updates | Often use outdated systems |
Home Carers may not be the cheapest, but we are the most flexible, transparent, and reliable — with no hidden fees, no contracts, and trusted carers. While it’s often hard to find prices from most agencies, our prices are transparent and can be seen within all our service pages unless we require more information.
Our Pricing Packages (ex gst)
- Hourly Weekday Support: $53.97 p/hr
- Hourly Weekend Support: $63.00 p/hr
- Hourly Holiday Support: $67 p/hr
- Overnight Care: From $367 per night ($30.50 p/hr)
- Respite Care: From $45 p/hr (1-2 weeks)
- Home Help/Wellness Checks: $297 (3 x 2hrs weekly)
- Morning + Evening Support: $497 (5 x 2hrs weekly
Loyalty Discounts:
Choose one:
- Referral Reward: 10% Off your first invoice
- 3-months advance: 5% Off
- 6-months advance: 10% Off
The Not so Small Print
We want your experience with Home Carers to be smooth, transparent, and supportive. Below are a few key details to help you understand how we work around our pricing:
Advance Payment
We require an upfront payment equal to the first two weeks of care before services begin. This is simply credited to your first invoices, ensuring everything is transparent from the start. Ongoing payments are made fortnightly by direct debit, with invoices and timesheets provided for review before any funds are debited.
Cancellation Policy
Unlike most agencies, you can cancel care at any time, but we kindly ask for 7 days’ notice where possible.
Our Carers and Training
All of our carers hold a current First Aid certificate, a valid driver’s licence, hold insurance, and they have been police vetted and interviewed for your peace of mind. We take great care in selecting carers who are not only skilled and qualified, but also kind, trustworthy, and committed to supporting older people with respect and compassion.
In-Home Assessment
Free. Normally valued at $279, we meet you or your loved one wherever they are, to understand your needs, concerns and requirements and for us to develop a personalised care plan.
Onboarding
$197+gst. This is our Set up administration fee required for all new clients to finalise a care plan and onboard our Carers. Paid on confirmation. This involves an initial meet and greet with a proposed carer and carer orientation.
Payments
Your first payment will be made in advance and then via direct debit from then on. You'll receive an invoice and have access to a timesheet with every payment for full transparency. Payments are debited fortnightly. If something comes up unexpectedly, we’ll do our best to arrange care quickly and ensure you or your loved one are well looked after.
Overnights
Our overnight support provides reassurance and responsive care from 8pm to 8am, including evening settling and morning routine support. Overnight care is designed for situations where support during the night is occasional and responsive. If care needs increase significantly, we will review the structure to ensure safety and sustainability. 1-2 nights per week = $397 per night 3-4 nights per week = $377 per night 5+ nights per week = $367 per night
To ensure the wellbeing and sustainability of our carers, families must provide a separate private bedroom with at least a double bed for overnight placements. This allows our carers to rest appropriately between support needs while remaining fully responsible and on-site.
Travel Costs
Our carers travel to you using their own vehicles, and as part of ensuring they’re supported, we include a standard travel fee of $1.17 after the first 15 km to cover their time and fuel. This is based on the official IRD rate. We always do our best to match you with a carer who lives nearby, unless otherwise arranged. This also includes transporting you to appointments, social outings, or errands in their vehicle. This is the same cost for using your own vehicle.
Weekends
Weekend hours begin at 10pm on Friday and end at 7am on Monday. Weekends are charged at $63 per hour
Holidays
Holiday hours are based on official New Zealand dates. Holidays are charged at $67 per hour
Emergency Care
Our emergency care is support that’s needed within the next two days. If something comes up unexpectedly, we’ll do our best to arrange care quickly and ensure you or your loved one are well looked after. Emergency rates are charged at 2 x the standard rates.
Why Families Choose Us
✅ Transparent, simple pricing
✅ No contracts. You can make changes when required
✅ Flexible, responsive care — even at short notice
✅ Locally owned, Christchurch and Tauranga based
✅ Experienced, kind carers hand-picked for your family
How much does in‑home care cost in Christchurch and Tauranga?
Our pricing starts at $53.97 per hour with clear weekend and PH rates. Most families begin with 3–6 hours a week.
Is in‑home care cheaper than a rest home?
It depends on how many hours you need and the facility’s add‑ons, but generally we are much more affordable.
Do you charge setup, assessment, or travel fees?
No assessment fees but we do charge a $197 set up fee. Up to 15km of travel is included when it’s part of the scheduled visit plan. Any surcharges (e.g., public holidays) are displayed upfront.
Do I have to sign a long‑term contract?
No. We’re flexible: You can add or reduce hours as life changes.
Can you start at short notice?
Yes — in most cases we can arrange support quickly. We’ll be honest about availability and timing.
Want a personalised quote for your parent’s care?