Cost of Living in Maryland
Updated November 2026 · population 6,206,011
Maryland prices are 5.0% above the US average (index 105.0), ranking 8th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest cost driver at 121.1, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $3,081 a month.
Prices by category
Maryland price index by category, US average = 100: All items 105.0, Housing (rents) 121.1, Goods 102.5, Utilities 110.9, Other services 101.6
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Maryland (whole state) | 105.0 |
| Metropolitan areas of Maryland | 105.5 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Maryland | 93.2 |
Cities in Maryland
Select a column heading to sort.
| Baltimore | 573,243 | 100.1 | $2,690 | $5,404 | $1,331 | $229,600 |
| Columbia | 104,338 | 109.1 | $3,402 | $6,469 | $2,042 | $497,400 |
| Germantown | 90,719 | 110.5 | $3,345 | $6,199 | $2,040 | $422,400 |
| Frederick | 83,395 | 107.0 | $3,171 | $5,949 | $1,764 | $401,500 |
| Waldorf | 82,943 | 109.9 | $3,335 | $6,225 | $1,995 | $407,600 |
| Silver Spring | 81,462 | 108.8 | $3,523 | $6,669 | $1,913 | $643,300 |
| Ellicott City | 75,257 | 109.3 | $3,352 | $6,630 | $2,061 | $661,700 |
| Glen Burnie | 72,590 | 104.1 | $3,052 | $6,014 | $1,648 | $348,900 |
| Gaithersburg | 69,825 | 110.7 | $3,439 | $6,577 | $2,058 | $496,500 |
| Bethesda resort/outlier | 69,397 | 115.9 | $3,981 | $7,684 | $2,469 | $1,169,900 |
| Rockville | 67,671 | 113.4 | $3,686 | $6,980 | $2,274 | $682,300 |
| Dundalk | 65,969 | 101.9 | $2,679 | $5,679 | $1,473 | $212,700 |
| Towson | 58,679 | 105.6 | $3,305 | $6,276 | $1,764 | $469,000 |
| Severn | 58,402 | 110.8 | $3,742 | $6,138 | $2,175 | $479,200 |
| Bel Air South | 58,137 | 105.5 | $2,995 | $5,850 | $1,757 | $405,900 |
| Bowie | 57,926 | 114.1 | $3,790 | $6,568 | $2,330 | $459,300 |
| Aspen Hill | 53,279 | 108.9 | $3,337 | $6,297 | $1,916 | $570,000 |
| Wheaton | 52,926 | 112.0 | $3,314 | $6,688 | $2,163 | $501,200 |
| Annapolis | 40,720 | 106.8 | $3,357 | $6,353 | $1,860 | $548,900 |
Metro areas in Maryland
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 108.9 | 151.1 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 104.5 | 118.2 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 102.6 | 113.1 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 100.8 | 103.8 |
| Salisbury, MD | 95.6 | 87.2 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 94.2 | 75.7 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Maryland.
Modelled monthly budget at Maryland average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Maryland (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,294 | $15,528 | 42% |
| Utilities | $314 | $3,768 | 10% |
| Food at home | $289 | $3,468 | 9% |
| Transportation | $656 | $7,872 | 21% |
| Health care | $357 | $4,284 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $171 | $2,052 | 6% |
| Total | $3,081 | $36,972 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Maryland (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,562 | $18,744 | 32% |
| Utilities | $497 | $5,964 | 10% |
| Food at home | $534 | $6,408 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,298 | $15,576 | 27% |
| Health care | $662 | $7,944 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $337 | $4,044 | 7% |
| Total | $4,890 | $58,680 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Maryland (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,749 | $20,988 | 30% |
| Utilities | $605 | $7,260 | 10% |
| Food at home | $761 | $9,132 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,725 | $20,700 | 29% |
| Health care | $617 | $7,404 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $434 | $5,208 | 7% |
| Total | $5,891 | $70,692 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
21.40¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +7.6% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
$4.23/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +38.3% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the South region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 105.1 | 106.4 | 106.1 | 104.9 | 104.6 | 105.0 |
Change over the period: −0.1 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maryland an expensive state to live in?
Maryland has a cost of living index of 105.0 (US = 100), 5.0% above the US average. It ranks 8th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 121.1 (rank 10), goods 102.5, utilities 110.9 and other services 101.6. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Maryland?
At Maryland state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $3,081 for a single adult, $4,890 for a couple and $5,891 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 105.5 and nonmetro areas 93.2.
What is the median rent and home value in Maryland?
The median gross rent in Maryland is $1,705 a month and the median home value is $419,900 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 30.8% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 24.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, South region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology