Cost of Living in Howard County, MD

Modeled annual cost: $67,913.

Median family income: $174,263.

Affordability Snapshot

MD County Median

$55,685

State Rank

4thMost expensive counties in MD out of 24See Maryland county rankings

Median Income

$174,263

Location Type

Metro

Biggest category:

Housing is the biggest expense in Howard County, MD.

$21,720 per year.

Cost breakdown

Total

$67,913

Per year

  • Housing:$21,720
  • Taxes:$15,583
  • Transport:$13,120
  • Other Costs:$8,273
  • Food:$4,927
  • Healthcare:$4,290
  • Childcare:$0

* Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Cheaper counties in Maryland

1Allegany County, MD
$40,419
2Washington County, MD
$44,148
3Garrett County, MD
$45,316
4Dorchester County, MD
$45,716
5Somerset County, MD
$46,093

Popular comparisons in Maryland

See how Howard County, MD compares across the country.

Explore our cost of living interactive map to compare Howard County, MD with multiple counties in the United States.

Use the Cost of Living Map Launch WatchPennies cost of living map
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Cost of Living in Howard County, MD (2026)