What does WatchPennies calculate?

WatchPennies estimates cost of living by US county across housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, other necessities, taxes, and income context.

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Can I compare two counties on WatchPennies?

Yes. WatchPennies lets you compare counties and adjust salary and family type to estimate relative cost differences.

Maryland Cost of Living by County

Compare annual cost of living, median household income, affordability, and major expense drivers across Maryland counties. These estimates are based on a single adult household with no children. Cost rank for each county in Maryland are rated from highest modeled total costs to lowest.

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Counties tracked:

24Across Maryland

Median Household Income:

$110,627In Maryland

Median Annual Cost:

$55,685Across Maryland

Most Expensive County:

Montgomery County, MD $72,203

Lowest modeled cost county:

Allegany County, MD$40,419

State National Rank

#9Most expensive state across the U.S.Out of 50 states plus D.C.

Allegany County, MD

Cost Rank: 24 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$40,419

Median Household Income:

$71,767

Cost / Income ratio :

56.3%

Housing20%

Food10%

Transport31%

Healthcare11%

Other Costs9%

Taxes19%

Biggest category: Transport$12,519

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Anne Arundel County, MD

Cost Rank: 5 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,363

Median Household Income:

$141,201

Cost / Income ratio :

47.0%

Housing32%

Food7%

Transport20%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs12%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,208

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Baltimore city, MD

Cost Rank: 19 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,862

Median Household Income:

$73,681

Cost / Income ratio :

65.0%

Housing29%

Food10%

Transport20%

Healthcare9%

Other Costs12%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,748

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Baltimore County, MD

Cost Rank: 12 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,803

Median Household Income:

$113,535

Cost / Income ratio :

49.2%

Housing30%

Food8%

Transport22%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs12%

Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$16,690

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

See Los Angeles County vs Baltimore County →View County Breakdown →

Calvert County, MD

Cost Rank: 3 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$69,081

Median Household Income:

$150,587

Cost / Income ratio :

45.9%

Housing30%

Food7%

Transport22%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs11%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,587

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Caroline County, MD

Cost Rank: 18 / 24

Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,944

Median Household Income:

$79,803

Cost / Income ratio :

61.3%

Housing24%

Food8%

Transport30%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs10%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,524

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Carroll County, MD

Cost Rank: 13 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,567

Median Household Income:

$139,997

Cost / Income ratio :

39.7%

Housing26%

Food8%

Transport27%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs11%

Taxes21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,747

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Cecil County, MD

Cost Rank: 11 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,983

Median Household Income:

$107,719

Cost / Income ratio :

52.9%

Housing28%

Food7%

Transport26%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs11%

Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$15,836

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Charles County, MD

Cost Rank: 2 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$70,964

Median Household Income:

$135,570

Cost / Income ratio :

52.3%

Housing32%

Food6%

Transport20%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs12%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$22,959

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Dorchester County, MD

Cost Rank: 21 / 24

Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,716

Median Household Income:

$80,558

Cost / Income ratio :

56.7%

Housing24%

Food9%

Transport29%

Healthcare9%

Other Costs10%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,092

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Frederick County, MD

Cost Rank: 6 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,024

Median Household Income:

$140,657

Cost / Income ratio :

46.9%

Housing31%

Food7%

Transport21%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs12%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,647

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Garrett County, MD

Cost Rank: 22 / 24

Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,316

Median Household Income:

$84,398

Cost / Income ratio :

53.7%

Housing21%

Food9%

Transport32%

Healthcare9%

Other Costs9%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,336

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Harford County, MD

Cost Rank: 10 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$58,229

Median Household Income:

$131,355

Cost / Income ratio :

44.3%

Housing28%

Food8%

Transport24%

Healthcare7%

Other Costs11%

Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$16,594

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Howard County, MD

Cost Rank: 4 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$67,913

Median Household Income:

$174,263

Cost / Income ratio :

39.0%

Housing32%

Food7%

Transport19%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs12%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,720

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Kent County, MD

Cost Rank: 15 / 24

Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,798

Median Household Income:

$104,630

Cost / Income ratio :

48.6%

Housing26%

Food9%

Transport25%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs11%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,272

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Montgomery County, MD

Cost Rank: 1 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$72,203

Median Household Income:

$158,399

Cost / Income ratio :

45.6%

Housing34%

Food7%

Transport17%

Healthcare6%

Other Costs13%

Taxes24%

Biggest category: Housing$24,568

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

See Los Angeles County vs Montgomery County →View County Breakdown →

Prince George's County, MD

Cost Rank: 7 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$65,933

Median Household Income:

$118,434

Cost / Income ratio :

55.7%

Housing32%

Food7%

Transport19%

Healthcare7%

Other Costs12%

Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,313

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

See Los Angeles County vs Prince George's County →View County Breakdown →

Queen Anne's County, MD

Cost Rank: 9 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$61,607

Median Household Income:

$130,657

Cost / Income ratio :

47.2%

Housing28%

Food8%

Transport25%

Healthcare7%

Other Costs11%

Taxes22%

Biggest category: Housing$17,169

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Somerset County, MD

Cost Rank: 20 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$46,093

Median Household Income:

$70,366

Cost / Income ratio :

65.5%

Housing25%

Food8%

Transport28%

Healthcare9%

Other Costs10%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,804

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

St. Mary's County, MD

Cost Rank: 8 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$61,765

Median Household Income:

$133,566

Cost / Income ratio :

46.2%

Housing29%

Food7%

Transport24%

Healthcare7%

Other Costs11%

Taxes22%

Biggest category: Housing$17,916

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Talbot County, MD

Cost Rank: 14 / 24

Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,568

Median Household Income:

$106,439

Cost / Income ratio :

49.4%

Housing28%

Food9%

Transport24%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs11%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$14,520

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Washington County, MD

Cost Rank: 23 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$44,148

Median Household Income:

$92,568

Cost / Income ratio :

47.7%

Housing23%

Food9%

Transport28%

Healthcare10%

Other Costs10%

Taxes19%

Biggest category: Transport$12,526

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Wicomico County, MD

Cost Rank: 17 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,780

Median Household Income:

$90,334

Cost / Income ratio :

55.1%

Housing27%

Food8%

Transport25%

Healthcare9%

Other Costs11%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,548

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

Worcester County, MD

Cost Rank: 16 / 24

Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,483

Median Household Income:

$102,724

Cost / Income ratio :

49.1%

Housing26%

Food9%

Transport26%

Healthcare8%

Other Costs11%

Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,308

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

View County Breakdown →

* Some counties might be unavailable