CARE home charges in Aberdeen are the highest in mainland Scotland, according to the latest figures.
The average charge for self-funded residents in the city is now £902 a week, or £46,904 a year.
City costs are 23% higher than the Scottish average of £735 a week, or £38,220 a year.
This means care home residents in Aberdeen are paying £167 more every week and £8,684 more every year from their own pocket.
The chief executive of Scottish Care, the industry body for private care homes, Ranald Mair, said the high cost of property and difficulty recruiting staff were at the root of the problem.
Self-funded residents are those who pay for their care because they have savings and property worth at least £26,000.
Aberdeen had the highest mainland costs, followed by East Dunbartonshire at £885 a week and Edinburgh at £883.
The average cost of Aberdeenshire care homes was £807, Angus was £700 and Moray £785.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “Aberdeen City Council buys all its care home beds at the nationally agreed rate which is brokered by Scotland Excel. This means Aberdeen City Council’s rates are the same as every other local authority.
“Private companies set their own rates of which we have no control over.”