What it actually costs to live in Maryland.
Maryland’s cost-of-living index sits at 113 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #13 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Maryland costs about 13% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $415,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,322/mo.
Maryland cost components
| Component | Maryland | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 113 | 100 |
| Median home price | $415,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,322/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $255/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Maryland compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Maryland ranks #13 for cost. That places Maryland in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Maryland metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Baltimore has very different housing dynamics than smaller Maryland metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
More Maryland metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Maryland cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Maryland?
Maryland's MERIC cost-of-living index is 113 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Maryland costs about 13% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Maryland?
Maryland's state-level median home price is approximately $415,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Maryland?
Maryland's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,322/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Maryland-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Montgomery County and Howard County have median home prices >$600k; close-in DC suburbs (Bethesda, Chevy Chase) routinely exceed $1M with $15k+/yr property tax bills.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.