Cost to Build an Assisted Living Facility in Wisconsin

Building an assisted living facility in Wisconsin requires significant capital investment, with costs varying substantially based on location, size, and amenity level. This comprehensive guide provides detailed cost breakdowns to help you plan and budget your Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF) or Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC) development project.

Wisconsin Construction Cost Overview

Statewide Cost Summary

Cost Component	Low Range	Mid Range	High Range
Per Square Foot	$200	$265	$375
Per Bed/Unit	$165,000	$225,000	$320,000
60-Bed Facility	$9.9M	$13.5M	$19.2M
100-Bed Facility	$16.5M	$22.5M	$32.0M

Cost Factors Unique to Wisconsin

Climate Considerations:

Enhanced insulation requirements
High-efficiency HVAC systems
Snow load structural requirements
Frost-protected foundations
Winter construction premiums

Regional Variations:

Madison metro premium: 15-25%
Milwaukee metro premium: 10-20%
Greater Wisconsin discount: 10-20%

Detailed Cost Breakdown

Land Acquisition Costs

Milwaukee Metro Area:

Location Type	Cost per Acre	Cost per Bed
Urban Core	$500,000-1,200,000	$25,000-60,000
Inner Suburbs	$250,000-500,000	$15,000-30,000
Outer Suburbs	$125,000-250,000	$10,000-18,000
Exurban	$60,000-125,000	$5,000-10,000

Madison Metro Area:

Location Type	Cost per Acre	Cost per Bed
Urban Core	$600,000-1,500,000	$30,000-75,000
Inner Suburbs	$300,000-600,000	$18,000-35,000
Outer Suburbs	$150,000-300,000	$12,000-22,000
Exurban	$75,000-150,000	$6,000-12,000

Regional Markets:

Market	Cost per Acre	Cost per Bed
Green Bay/Fox Valley	$80,000-200,000	$6,000-15,000
Eau Claire	$60,000-150,000	$5,000-12,000
La Crosse	$50,000-130,000	$4,000-10,000
Greater Wisconsin	$25,000-80,000	$2,500-6,000

Land Requirements:

Typical site: 3-5 acres for 60-100 bed facility
Parking: 0.5-0.75 spaces per bed
Outdoor amenities: 0.5-1 acre
Future expansion consideration

Hard Construction Costs

Building Shell:

Component	Cost per SF	% of Hard Costs
Foundation	$16-26	8%
Structural Frame	$32-52	18%
Exterior Envelope	$28-46	15%
Roofing	$11-18	6%
Windows/Doors	$14-23	8%

Interior Construction:

Component	Cost per SF	% of Hard Costs
Interior Partitions	$16-26	9%
Flooring	$11-20	7%
Ceilings	$7-13	4%
Millwork/Casework	$9-17	5%
Paint/Finishes	$5-11	4%

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing:

System	Cost per SF	% of Hard Costs
HVAC	$32-52	16%
Plumbing	$18-30	10%
Electrical	$20-32	11%
Fire Protection	$8-13	4%
Low Voltage/Technology	$9-17	5%

Wisconsin-Specific Construction Costs

Climate-Related Additions:

Item	Additional Cost
Enhanced Insulation	$3-5/SF
High-Efficiency HVAC	$4-8/SF
Frost-Protected Foundation	$2-4/SF
Snow Load Structure	$2-4/SF
Winter Construction Premium	5-15%

Energy Efficiency Investments:

Feature	Cost	Annual Savings
Geothermal HVAC	$140,000-280,000	$22,000-45,000
Solar Panels	$90,000-180,000	$14,000-28,000
LED Lighting	$28,000-55,000	$7,000-14,000
Smart Building Systems	$45,000-90,000	$9,000-18,000

Soft Costs

Professional Services:

Service	Cost Range	% of Project
Architecture	$280,000-700,000	3-5%
Engineering	$140,000-350,000	1.5-2.5%
Interior Design	$90,000-250,000	1-2%
Legal Fees	$45,000-120,000	0.5-1%
Accounting	$22,000-60,000	0.25-0.5%

Permits and Fees:

Item	Cost Range
Building Permits	$40,000-120,000
Impact Fees	$20,000-80,000
Utility Connections	$65,000-180,000
DHS Licensing	$250-550
Environmental Review	$8,000-25,000

Financing Costs:

Item	Cost Range
Construction Interest	4-6% of loan
Loan Fees	1-2% of loan
Appraisal	$7,000-14,000
Title/Escrow	$14,000-35,000

Other Soft Costs:

Item	Cost Range
Market Study	$7,000-14,000
Surveys	$9,000-22,000
Soil Testing	$4,500-14,000
Insurance (Construction)	$45,000-120,000
Contingency	5-10% of project

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E)

Resident Rooms:

Item	Cost per Room
Bed (Hospital-style)	$2,200-4,500
Mattress	$700-1,400
Dresser/Storage	$900-2,200
Nightstand	$280-550
Seating	$450-1,100
Window Treatments	$280-550
Lighting	$350-700
Total per Room	$5,500-11,000

Common Areas:

Area	Cost Range
Dining Room	$70,000-175,000
Living/Activity Rooms	$45,000-135,000
Reception/Lobby	$28,000-70,000
Therapy/Wellness	$35,000-90,000
Outdoor Furniture	$22,000-65,000

Equipment:

Category	Cost Range
Commercial Kitchen	$175,000-450,000
Laundry Equipment	$45,000-135,000
Medical Equipment	$28,000-90,000
Technology/Computers	$45,000-135,000
Vehicles	$38,000-90,000

Regional Cost Comparisons

Milwaukee Metro Area

Sample 80-Bed Project:

Component	Cost
Land (4 acres)	$1,000,000
Hard Costs	$14,400,000
Soft Costs	$2,160,000
FF&E	$1,080,000
Contingency	$1,440,000
Total	$20,080,000
Per Bed	$251,000

Madison Metro Area

Sample 80-Bed Project:

Component	Cost
Land (4 acres)	$1,200,000
Hard Costs	$15,200,000
Soft Costs	$2,280,000
FF&E	$1,120,000
Contingency	$1,520,000
Total	$21,320,000
Per Bed	$266,500

Fox Valley/Green Bay Area

Sample 80-Bed Project:

Component	Cost
Land (4 acres)	$560,000
Hard Costs	$12,800,000
Soft Costs	$1,920,000
FF&E	$960,000
Contingency	$1,280,000
Total	$17,520,000
Per Bed	$219,000

Greater Wisconsin

Sample 80-Bed Project:

Component	Cost
Land (4 acres)	$280,000
Hard Costs	$11,200,000
Soft Costs	$1,680,000
FF&E	$880,000
Contingency	$1,120,000
Total	$15,160,000
Per Bed	$189,500

Cost by Facility Type

Standard CBRF

Size	Total Cost	Per Bed
40 beds	$7-10M	$175,000-250,000
60 beds	$10-15M	$167,000-250,000
80 beds	$14-20M	$175,000-250,000
100 beds	$17-25M	$170,000-250,000

Memory Care Facility

Memory care requires additional security and design features:

Size	Total Cost	Per Bed
24 beds	$5.5-8M	$229,000-333,000
36 beds	$8-12M	$222,000-333,000
48 beds	$11-16M	$229,000-333,000

Additional Memory Care Costs:

Secured perimeter: $45,000-90,000
Wandering prevention: $28,000-65,000
Specialized lighting: $22,000-45,000
Sensory features: $18,000-45,000

RCAC (Residential Care Apartment Complex)

Size	Total Cost	Per Unit
40 units	$10-15M	$250,000-375,000
60 units	$15-22M	$250,000-367,000
80 units	$20-30M	$250,000-375,000

Cost Management Strategies

Value Engineering

High-Impact Savings:

Efficient building footprint
Standardized room designs
Pre-engineered systems
Local material sourcing
Phased construction

Potential Savings:

Strategy	Savings
Design optimization	5-10%
Material substitution	3-7%
Competitive bidding	5-15%
Phased development	10-20%

Wisconsin Incentives

Available Programs:

WHEDA financing programs
Tax increment financing (TIF)
Property tax abatement (local)
Energy efficiency rebates
Workforce development grants

Financing Strategies

Construction Financing Options:

Loan Type	LTC	Rate	Term
SBA 504	90%	6-7%	20-25 years
Conventional	65-75%	7-9%	18-24 months
HUD 232	85%	5.5-6.5%	40 years
Bridge	70-80%	9-12%	12-24 months

Development Timeline and Costs

Typical Timeline

Phase	Duration	Cumulative
Site Selection	2-4 months	2-4 months
Due Diligence	2-3 months	4-7 months
Design	4-6 months	8-13 months
Permitting	3-5 months	11-18 months
Construction	12-18 months	23-36 months
Lease-Up	6-12 months	29-48 months

Carrying Costs During Development

Cost	Monthly	24-Month Total
Construction Interest	$70,000-130,000	$1.7-3.1M
Property Taxes	$4,000-12,000	$96,000-288,000
Insurance	$2,800-7,000	$67,000-168,000
Utilities	$1,800-4,500	$43,000-108,000

Finance Your Wisconsin ALF Construction Project

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Analyze project feasibility
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This guide is for informational purposes only. Construction costs vary based on market conditions, specifications, and timing. Consult with local contractors and developers for current pricing in your specific market.