Retirement Homes in Markham: 2026 Costs and How to Compare

SeniorHome.ca lists 54 senior living communities in Markham, Ontario, and 9 of them are retirement residences in Markham. Published starting rates cluster between $2,157 and $4,544 a month, with a median start of $3,634; the highest published top rate in the data is $10,403 for an intensive memory-focused respite stay. Most residences also offer assisted living, memory care or short respite stays on site.

That spread matters. Two Markham buildings can both call themselves a retirement home and quote rates $2,000 apart, because one is selling an apartment with meals and the other is selling hands-on daily care. The retirement residence listings for Markham show which buildings combine both, and this guide walks through what drives the price.

At a glance

• 54 senior living communities in Markham; 9 are listed as retirement residences.
• Typical starting range: $2,386–$4,544 per month; median start $3,634; lowest published start $2,157.
• All 9 retirement-residence listings publish rates, so you can compare before you call.
• Related care in the city: 12 assisted living, 19 memory care, 18 respite care and 19 nursing home listings.
• Residences sit across Unionville, Thornhill, Buttonville and the 16th Avenue corridor, so location often decides the shortlist.
• Ontario retirement homes are licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), which keeps a public register you can check.

How much do retirement homes in Markham cost in 2026?

Budget roughly $2,400 to $4,500 a month to start, with a median starting rate of $3,634 across the nine Markham retirement residences on SeniorHome.ca.

Starting rates usually buy the smallest suite with a basic service package. As you add a larger suite, a second meal plan, medication management or personal care hours, the monthly figure climbs. The published upper rates in the data show how far: Amica Swan Lake ranges from $3,634 to $6,460 a month, Amica Unionville from $4,461 to $7,931, and Sunrise Senior Living of Unionville from $4,544 to $8,078. At the other end, Glynnwood Retirement Home in Thornhill starts at $2,879.

Two couples with the same budget can land in very different places, so it helps to price the care level you actually need rather than the brochure rate. Our cost of senior living in Markham page breaks the numbers down further by care type.

What is included in the monthly rate?

In Ontario, a retirement home rate typically bundles accommodation, meals, housekeeping, building staff and life-enrichment programming — care services are usually priced on top.

When you ask for a written quote, ask the residence to separate three things:

1. Accommodation: suite size, layout, floor, view, and whether utilities, Wi-Fi and cable are included.
2. Hospitality: how many meals per day, snacks, weekly housekeeping and laundry, scheduled transportation.
3. Care: medication administration, bathing or dressing assistance, escorts to meals, nursing hours — usually sold in packages or by the hour, and reassessed as needs change.

That third bucket is where surprises live. Ask what triggers a move from one care package to the next, how much notice you get of a rate change, and what happens if needs exceed what the home can provide. Because most Markham residences also list assisted living or memory care, many families can add support without moving buildings — confirm that in writing rather than assuming it.

Retirement home or long-term care: which one do you need?

Retirement homes are private-pay and you apply directly; long-term care homes are publicly subsidized and access is arranged through Ontario Health atHome.

If a parent needs help with a few daily tasks but is otherwise stable, a retirement residence is usually the faster route — you tour, you choose, you sign. If care needs are heavy and around-the-clock, the 19 nursing homes in Markham are the relevant category, and the province sets accommodation co-payments with a rate reduction available for low-income residents. Many families do both: move into a retirement home now and sit on a long-term care waitlist. Our explainer on long-term care versus retirement homes in Ontario covers the differences in detail, and a free care assessment can help you decide which list to join.

Which Markham retirement residences stand out in the data?

Six listings in the city combine retirement living with published rates and Google reviews; here is how they differ.

Glynnwood Retirement Home (7700 Bayview Ave, Thornhill) is rated 4.9 on Google from 28 reviews and starts at $2,879, offering independent living, assisted living and respite care. Amica Swan Lake (6360 16th Ave) is rated 4.4 from 64 reviews, sits on the water, and lists renovated independent living suites plus a memory care floor. Amica Unionville (34 Main St Unionville) is also rated 4.4, from 75 reviews, in the heritage village setting. Sunrise Senior Living of Unionville (38 Swansea Rd) is rated 4.2 from 75 reviews and focuses on assisted living, memory care and respite.

Two listings serve narrower needs. Memory & Company on Renfrew Drive runs respite hotel stays and premium day programs for people living with dementia — rated 4.6 from 36 reviews, with a published monthly equivalent of $10,403, which reflects intensive short-stay care rather than a standard suite. The Markham Buttonville Mon Sheong Court Presentation Centre on Apple Creek Blvd is a sales and information office for a planned residence, listing rates from $2,386, so ask about timelines before you plan around it.

What should you ask on a tour?

Ask about staffing, care escalation and the total cost of the actual suite you would take — not the advertised starting rate.

• Who is on site overnight, and is a registered nurse in the building or on call?
• How is care reassessed, and how much notice precedes a care-package increase?
• What is the deposit, the move-in fee, and the notice period if you leave or a resident passes away?
• Are short respite stays available, and can they convert to permanent? The city has 18 respite care listings, which makes a trial stay realistic.
• What happens if dementia progresses — is there a secure floor, or would a move be required?
• Can you see the RHRA licence and the most recent inspection information?
• Are pets allowed, and with what size or care conditions? Our guide to pet-friendly retirement homes in Canada lists the questions that matter.

Visit twice if you can, once at a meal. Food and the tone between staff and residents tell you more than any floor plan.

How do families pay for a Markham retirement home?

Retirement home fees are paid privately, usually from pensions, savings and home-sale proceeds, with some tax relief on care costs.

For 2026, Service Canada reports the average new CPP retirement pension at 65 is $925.35 a month (maximum $1,507.65), Old Age Security is $751.97 at ages 65–74 and $827.17 at 75+ for July–September 2026, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement pays up to $1,123.17 a month for a single low-income senior. Together those sources rarely cover a $3,634 median starting rate, so most families combine income with assets. The medical expense tax credit and the disability tax credit can offset part of attendant-care costs billed by a retirement home — ask the residence for an itemized annual statement separating care from rent, and check with an accountant. For broader benchmarks, see our cost of senior living across Canada.

Markham retirement residences compared

Community	Care offered	Monthly from	Google rating
Glynnwood Retirement Home (Thornhill)	Independent living, assisted living, respite	$2,879	4.9 (28 reviews)
Amica Swan Lake (16th Ave)	Independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite	$3,634	4.4 (64 reviews)
Amica Unionville	Independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite	$4,461	4.4 (75 reviews)
Sunrise Senior Living of Unionville	Assisted living, memory care, respite	$4,544	4.2 (75 reviews)
Markham Buttonville Mon Sheong Court Presentation Centre	Retirement residence (presentation centre)	$2,386	4.5 (4 reviews)
Memory & Company (Renfrew Dr)	Memory care, respite hotel, adult day programs	$10,403	4.6 (36 reviews)

Suite counts and year established were not published for these communities, so ask each residence directly.

How we compiled this

Figures come from the SeniorHome.ca directory as of 24 September 2026: 54 communities in Markham, 9 listed as retirement residences, all 9 with published or collected starting rates, plus Google ratings and review counts recorded at that date. Rates are monthly in Canadian dollars and depend on suite type and care level; ratings and prices change. Confirm current pricing, availability and licensing directly with each residence before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a retirement home in Markham cost per month in 2026?

Published starting rates for the 9 retirement residences in Markham range from $2,157 to $4,544 a month, with a median start of $3,634. Upper rates go higher as care and suite size increase — for example, Amica Unionville is published at $4,461 to $7,931 and Sunrise of Unionville at $4,544 to $8,078. The highest published rate in the data, $10,403, belongs to Memory & Company's intensive respite and day-program service rather than a standard suite.

How many retirement homes are there in Markham?

SeniorHome.ca lists 54 senior living communities in Markham, of which 9 are categorized as retirement residences. The same city also has 16 independent living, 12 assisted living, 19 memory care, 18 respite care and 19 nursing home listings, since many buildings appear under more than one care type.

What is the difference between a retirement home and long-term care in Ontario?

Retirement homes are private-pay, licensed and regulated by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), and you apply directly to the residence. Long-term care homes are publicly subsidized, with placement arranged through Ontario Health atHome and accommodation co-payments set by the province, including a rate reduction for low-income residents. Families with heavy, around-the-clock care needs usually look at Markham's 19 nursing home listings instead.

Which Markham retirement residences have the highest Google ratings?

In the SeniorHome.ca data as of September 2026, Glynnwood Retirement Home in Thornhill is rated 4.9 from 28 Google reviews, Memory & Company is rated 4.6 from 36 reviews, and both Amica Unionville and Amica Swan Lake are rated 4.4, from 75 and 64 reviews respectively. Sunrise Senior Living of Unionville is rated 4.2 from 75 reviews. Ratings change over time, so check current reviews before touring.

Can government benefits help pay for a retirement home in Markham?

Retirement home fees are paid privately, but income supports help. For 2026, Service Canada lists the average new CPP retirement pension at 65 as $925.35 a month, Old Age Security at $751.97 (ages 65–74) or $827.17 (75+) for July–September 2026, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement at up to $1,123.17 for a single low-income senior. The medical expense tax credit and disability tax credit may offset some attendant-care charges, so ask for an itemized statement separating care from rent.