Drug rehab costs range from free at state-funded facilities to over $100,000 at luxury centers, with most standard programs falling between $5,000 and $20,000 for a 30-day stay. The actual price you’ll pay depends on the type of program, how long you stay, what amenities are included, and whether you have insurance.
Inpatient Rehab Costs
Residential inpatient programs, where you live at the facility full-time, are the most common option for moderate to severe addiction. A 30-day inpatient program averages about $12,500, though prices range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the clinic. Private facilities typically charge $500 to $650 per day, averaging around $575.
Longer stays cost significantly more but are often recommended for people with severe or long-standing addictions. Programs lasting 60 to 90 days range from $12,000 to $60,000, with an average around $36,000. These longer programs generally include medical detox, 24/7 supervision, individual and group therapy, and structured daily programming. The higher price reflects more staff time, more therapy sessions, and the basic cost of housing and feeding someone for two to three months.
Outpatient Program Costs
Outpatient programs let you live at home while attending treatment sessions several times a week. Standard outpatient therapy is the least expensive option, often running a few thousand dollars over several months. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which require more hours per week, cost considerably more.
At a private facility, intensive outpatient care can run $500 to $650 per day. Over a 30-day period, that adds up to $15,000 to $19,500, averaging about $17,250. A full 12-week intensive outpatient program can reach $42,000 to $54,600. These numbers can be surprising since outpatient care doesn’t include housing, but the per-day cost reflects the same professional staff, therapy hours, and medical oversight you’d receive in a residential setting.
Luxury Rehab vs. State-Funded Programs
The price spectrum for rehab is enormous. At the top end, luxury facilities charge $30,000 to $100,000 per month. These programs offer private rooms, resort-like settings, amenities such as yoga studios, pools, equine therapy, and gourmet meals. The clinical care may be similar to standard programs, but the environment is dramatically different.
At the other end, state-funded treatment centers provide care at little or no cost to people who qualify. Eligibility is usually based on income, lack of insurance, or both. Standard facilities in the $5,000 to $20,000 range often use sliding-scale fees, adjusting what you pay based on your financial situation. Wait times for state-funded beds can stretch from days to weeks, so planning ahead helps.
What Medication-Assisted Treatment Costs
For opioid and alcohol addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one of the most effective long-term approaches. The cost varies widely depending on the specific medication. Medicare payment data gives a useful benchmark for weekly costs, which include the drug itself plus counseling, therapy, and drug testing.
- Methadone: About $207 per week total, with the drug itself costing roughly $35. You’ll need to visit a clinic daily for dosing, which adds time and transportation costs.
- Oral buprenorphine (Suboxone): About $258 per week total, with the medication running around $86. This can be prescribed by a regular doctor and taken at home, making it more convenient.
- Injectable buprenorphine (Sublocade): About $1,757 per week total. The drug component alone is roughly $1,579, making this the most expensive buprenorphine option, though it only requires a monthly injection.
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol): About $1,343 per week total, with the medication costing around $1,164. This is a monthly injection used for both opioid and alcohol dependence.
These figures represent the full bundled cost of treatment, not necessarily what you’d pay out of pocket. Insurance covers MAT for most people, and many clinics offer payment assistance for the more expensive injectable options.
How Insurance Reduces Your Cost
Federal law requires most health insurance plans to cover substance use disorder treatment on par with medical and surgical care. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act means your plan can’t charge higher copays for addiction treatment than it would for a comparable medical visit. It also can’t impose stricter visit limits, lower annual dollar caps, or require preauthorization for rehab if similar requirements don’t exist for medical care.
In practice, this means most private insurance, employer-sponsored plans, Medicaid, and Medicare will cover at least a portion of rehab. Copays and deductibles still apply, so your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan. Some people pay only a few hundred dollars for a 30-day program after insurance; others face several thousand in cost-sharing. Call your insurer before choosing a facility and ask specifically what’s covered, what your copay will be, and whether the program you’re considering is in-network.
Plans must also include out-of-network provider benefits for mental health and substance use treatment if they offer out-of-network benefits for medical care. That said, going out of network will almost always cost you more.
Financial Assistance Options
If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford your share of the cost, several options can help. The federal Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) sends funding to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and some tribal entities specifically to provide addiction treatment. These dollars flow to local programs, community organizations, and faith-based groups that offer free or reduced-cost care. Priority populations include pregnant women, people who inject drugs, and those needing HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis services alongside addiction treatment.
Many facilities offer sliding-scale fees based on your income. Some provide payment plans that let you spread the cost over months or years. Others accept scholarships or grants from nonprofit organizations. Calling SAMHSA’s national helpline (1-800-662-4357) is a free, confidential starting point for finding programs in your area that match your financial situation.
Costs You Might Not Expect
The sticker price of a program doesn’t always capture everything you’ll spend. Travel is a significant hidden cost if you choose a facility outside your area. Some rehabs offer free transportation or include it in the program fee, but many don’t. If you’re flying across the country for treatment, airfare, luggage, and return travel add up quickly.
Lost income during residential treatment is often the biggest indirect cost. A 30-day inpatient stay means a month without a paycheck for most people, and 90-day programs mean three months. Some employers offer medical leave protections, but not all positions qualify. Aftercare is another expense to plan for. Ongoing therapy, support group participation, sober living housing, and continued medication all carry costs that extend well beyond the initial program. Programs located far from home may not have strong referral networks in your area, making it harder to set up affordable aftercare before you leave.
Sober living homes, which provide a structured drug-free environment after completing a program, typically cost $500 to $2,000 per month. Many people stay in sober living for three to twelve months, adding thousands to the total cost of recovery. Planning for these post-treatment expenses from the start helps avoid gaps in care that increase the risk of relapse.