What a Private AI Home Assistant Costs (With Real Prices)

Our prices, in full

We publish our prices because most people searching this question can't find a straight answer. These are fixed after a free walk-through of your home, and every package includes the dedicated AI computer.

Package	One-time price	Best for	Care plan
Essentials	$4,995	A private assistant for your digital life: email, calendars, files, reminders, family profiles	$149/month
Smart Home	$6,995	Everything in Essentials plus the house: lights, locks, thermostats, shades and cameras, up to about 25 devices	$149/month
Estate	From $10,995	Large homes, multiple buildings or properties, house managers and staff	$299/month

What the one-time price covers

• The AI computer. A dedicated machine that runs the AI model in your home. You own it.
• Installation and security. We set up the computer, secure it, and put your smart devices on their own network.
• Connections. Email, calendars and files (Essentials); plus the smart home hub and your devices (Smart Home and Estate).
• Texting. Each family member can message the assistant from the app they already use.
• Routines and safety rules. Arriving, leaving, bedtime and away modes; confirmations before doors, garage or alarm changes.
• Training. A walkthrough for the whole household.

For what the assistant actually does day to day, see private AI home assistant.

What the care plan covers

The care plan is how we keep the system healthy after install day: updates and security patches, monitoring, new routines whenever you ask, a quarterly check-in and a direct line to us. It's $149 a month for Essentials and Smart Home and $299 a month for Estate. Details are on our care plans page.

There's no separate AI subscription. Because the model runs on your own computer, you don't pay per question or per month for a cloud AI service.

What else to budget for

Smart devices

Devices aren't included because every home starts somewhere different. Many homes already have a smart thermostat, some smart bulbs or a video doorbell that can be connected. These are typical retail ranges, not quotes, and prices vary by brand and model:

Device	Typical retail range (estimate)	Notes
Water leak sensor	$20–$60 each	Most homes need 6–10
Temperature and humidity sensor	$20–$50 each	Essential for second homes
Smart lock	$200–$400 each	Check door hardware and HOA rules
Smart thermostat	$130–$300 each	Depends on HVAC system
Smart water shutoff valve	$300–$700 plus plumber	Installed on the main line
Smart light switch or dimmer	$50–$150 each, plus electrician	Wiring work by an electrician
Motorized shades	Hundreds to thousands per window	Biggest variable in most budgets
Cameras	$100–$400 each	Prefer local recording

Electrical work, plumbing and wiring are done by licensed trades, and we coordinate with yours or recommend one.

Network upgrades

If your Wi-Fi doesn't reach the whole house, it needs fixing first. In large homes and second homes with outbuildings, that can mean additional access points or wiring. We'll tell you at the walk-through whether your network is good enough. See network and security.

Running costs

Your existing internet service, a small amount of electricity for the computer, and, optionally, a cellular backup data plan so alerts still reach you when the internet is down.

Five-year cost of ownership

Day-one price is only half the picture. Here's what each package costs over five years with a care plan, before devices:

Package	One-time	Care plan, 5 years	Five-year total (before devices)
Essentials	$4,995	$8,940	$13,935
Smart Home	$6,995	$8,940	$15,935
Estate	From $10,995	$17,940	From $28,935

Use the same five-year view when comparing any proposal, including dealer systems with license or service fees.

How it compares

Cloud smart speakers

A smart speaker costs far less up front. The trade-off is that your requests are processed by the company's servers, and those assistants mostly handle one command at a time rather than knowing your household's routines. If that trade-off is fine for you, you don't need us. If it isn't, read is Alexa always listening? and local AI vs cloud assistants.

Doing it yourself

Everything we use is available to anyone. Home Assistant is free, open-source software, and its official hub, Home Assistant Green, lists at $199. A computer powerful enough to run a useful AI model locally costs far more than the hub. Our estimate for capable dedicated hardware today is about $3,500. Then there's setup: connecting devices, securing the network, choosing and tuning a model, wiring it to your messaging apps, and keeping all of it updated.

If you enjoy that kind of project, DIY is a great option and you'll learn a lot. Most of our clients would rather have it done properly once and have someone to call.

Traditional integrators

For context, HomeAdvisor's 2026 cost guide says fully automating an average four-bedroom, three-bathroom home can run up to about $15,000, that luxury, fully connected homes run around $10,000 to $150,000, and that complete Crestron home solutions run about $10 to $20 per square foot, or $20,000 to $100,000. Those systems often include high-end AV, keypads and touch panels that we don't sell. For a fuller comparison, see Home Assistant vs Control4 vs Crestron.

Three example budgets

These are illustrations, not quotes. Device figures use the typical retail ranges above and will change with brands, models and what you already own.

A Miami Beach condo, owners away in summer

The owners want to text the assistant about their calendars and email, know immediately about leaks and humidity while they're up north, and let the building's maintenance staff in with temporary codes. That's the Essentials package at $4,995, plus about eight leak sensors, three temperature and humidity sensors and a smart lock if the building allows it. Our estimate for those devices is roughly $600 to $1,200 at retail. With a care plan at $149 a month, the first year comes to roughly $7,400 to $8,000.

A Shelter Island second home, closed for winter

The owners want the house to run itself: heat and lights on a schedule, a "we're on the ferry" routine, freeze and leak alerts to them and their caretaker, and an automatic water shutoff. That's Smart Home at $6,995. They already have a smart thermostat. Leak and temperature sensors, two smart locks, a water shutoff valve and a few smart switches might add about $2,000 to $3,500 in devices and trades. The first year, with the care plan, lands around $10,800 to $12,300.

A Southampton estate with a house manager

Main house, pool house and guest cottage, with a house manager, housekeeping on a schedule and seasonal vendors. That's Estate pricing, from $10,995, and the final number depends on buildings, devices and network work. Device budgets here vary the most. Motorized shades alone can outweigh everything else. Expect a detailed written proposal after the walk-through.

Questions to ask about any quote, including ours

• Is the AI hardware included, and who owns it?
• What recurring costs are there, and what keeps working if I stop paying?
• Which devices are included, and which are extra?
• Who does electrical and plumbing work?
• Do I get administrator access and written documentation?

Our guide to choosing a smart home installer has the full list.

What makes a price go up

• Size and layout. More buildings, floors and outbuildings mean more network work and more devices.
• Device count. Smart Home covers up to about 25 devices; beyond that, Estate pricing applies.
• Staff and access. House managers, caretakers and vendor schedules add setup (see smart home for house managers).
• Multiple properties. Each property needs its own hardware and setup, such as a Hamptons house and a Miami apartment.
• Custom integrations. Unusual equipment, such as pool controllers, generators or older lighting systems, may need extra work.

Getting an exact number

We price after a free walk-through, in person on the East End or in Miami, or by video. You get a fixed price in writing before anything is installed, with devices listed separately so you can see exactly where the money goes. Start with our smart home installation page or email us to book a walk-through.