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.

Counties tracked:

24Across Maryland

Median Household Income:

$110,627In Maryland

Median Annual Cost:

$55,685Across Maryland

Most Expensive County:

Montgomery County, MD $72,203

Most Affordable 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%

Housing 20%
Food 10%
Transport 31%
Healthcare 11%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 19%

Biggest category: Transport$12,519

Cheaper Alternatives:

Anne Arundel County, MD

Cost Rank: 5 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,363

Median Household Income:

$141,201

Cost / Income ratio :

47.0%

Housing 32%
Food 7%
Transport 20%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,208

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Baltimore city, MD

Cost Rank: 19 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,862

Median Household Income:

$73,681

Cost / Income ratio :

65.0%

Housing 29%
Food 10%
Transport 20%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,748

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Baltimore County, MD

Cost Rank: 12 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,803

Median Household Income:

$113,535

Cost / Income ratio :

49.2%

Housing 30%
Food 8%
Transport 22%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Housing$16,690

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Calvert County, MD

Cost Rank: 3 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$69,081

Median Household Income:

$150,587

Cost / Income ratio :

45.9%

Housing 30%
Food 7%
Transport 22%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,587

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Caroline County, MD

Cost Rank: 18 / 24
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,944

Median Household Income:

$79,803

Cost / Income ratio :

61.3%

Housing 24%
Food 8%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,524

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Carroll County, MD

Cost Rank: 13 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,567

Median Household Income:

$139,997

Cost / Income ratio :

39.7%

Housing 26%
Food 8%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Transport$14,747

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Cecil County, MD

Cost Rank: 11 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,983

Median Household Income:

$107,719

Cost / Income ratio :

52.9%

Housing 28%
Food 7%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Housing$15,836

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Charles County, MD

Cost Rank: 2 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$70,964

Median Household Income:

$135,570

Cost / Income ratio :

52.3%

Housing 32%
Food 6%
Transport 20%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$22,959

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Dorchester County, MD

Cost Rank: 21 / 24
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,716

Median Household Income:

$80,558

Cost / Income ratio :

56.7%

Housing 24%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,092

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MD

Frederick County, MD

Cost Rank: 6 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,024

Median Household Income:

$140,657

Cost / Income ratio :

46.9%

Housing 31%
Food 7%
Transport 21%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,647

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Garrett County, MD

Cost Rank: 22 / 24
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$45,316

Median Household Income:

$84,398

Cost / Income ratio :

53.7%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 32%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$14,336

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MD

Harford County, MD

Cost Rank: 10 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$58,229

Median Household Income:

$131,355

Cost / Income ratio :

44.3%

Housing 28%
Food 8%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 7%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 21%

Biggest category: Housing$16,594

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Howard County, MD

Cost Rank: 4 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$67,913

Median Household Income:

$174,263

Cost / Income ratio :

39.0%

Housing 32%
Food 7%
Transport 19%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,720

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Kent County, MD

Cost Rank: 15 / 24
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,798

Median Household Income:

$104,630

Cost / Income ratio :

48.6%

Housing 26%
Food 9%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,272

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Montgomery County, MD

Cost Rank: 1 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$72,203

Median Household Income:

$158,399

Cost / Income ratio :

45.6%

Housing 34%
Food 7%
Transport 17%
Healthcare 6%
Other Costs 13%
Taxes 24%

Biggest category: Housing$24,568

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

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%

Housing 32%
Food 7%
Transport 19%
Healthcare 7%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 23%

Biggest category: Housing$21,313

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

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%

Housing 28%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 7%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Housing$17,169

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Somerset County, MD

Cost Rank: 20 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$46,093

Median Household Income:

$70,366

Cost / Income ratio :

65.5%

Housing 25%
Food 8%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Transport$12,804

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

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%

Housing 29%
Food 7%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 7%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 22%

Biggest category: Housing$17,916

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Talbot County, MD

Cost Rank: 14 / 24
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,568

Median Household Income:

$106,439

Cost / Income ratio :

49.4%

Housing 28%
Food 9%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Housing$14,520

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Washington County, MD

Cost Rank: 23 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$44,148

Median Household Income:

$92,568

Cost / Income ratio :

47.7%

Housing 23%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 10%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 19%

Biggest category: Transport$12,526

Cheaper Alternatives:

Wicomico County, MD

Cost Rank: 17 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,780

Median Household Income:

$90,334

Cost / Income ratio :

55.1%

Housing 27%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 9%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,548

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

Worcester County, MD

Cost Rank: 16 / 24
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,483

Median Household Income:

$102,724

Cost / Income ratio :

49.1%

Housing 26%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 8%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,308

Cheaper Alternatives: Allegany County, MDWashington County, MD

* Some counties might be unavailable