Cost of living in Salisbury, MD
131,872 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 4.4% below the US average, with housing at 87.2 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,140 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Salisbury, MD
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for Wicomico County, MD in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $73,802 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,150 |
| Taxes | $1,151 | $1,871 | $834 |
| Take-home pay | $3,849 | $7,296 | $5,316 |
| Housing | $1,102 | $1,428 | $1,428 |
| Childcare | $0 | $800 | $1,507 |
| Food | $426 | $955 | $1,239 |
| Transportation | $175 | $349 | $349 |
| Sales tax | $29 | $29 | $29 |
| Other goods & services | $978 | $978 | $978 |
| Left over | $1,140 | $2,757 | −$213 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($73,802). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Salisbury, MD vs Maryland and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Maryland statewide (light).
Within Maryland, Salisbury, MD ranks 3rd of 4 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 105.0. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,095 | $43,800 | 17.8% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,102 | $44,080 | 17.9% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,428 | $57,120 | 23.2% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,870 | $74,800 | 30.4% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,877 | $75,080 | 30.5% |
FY2027 FMRs for Salisbury, MD HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,274 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Wicomico County, MD
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $209 | $13,260 | $156 | $9,929 |
| Toddler (2) | $151 | $9,603 | $127 | $8,057 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $151 | $9,603 | $127 | $8,057 |
| School-age (5–12) | $133 | $8,477 | $121 | $7,682 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in Wicomico County, MD (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Salisbury
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Maryland income tax | $2,011 | $3,199 | $5,370 |
| Local income tax (Wicomico County) | $1,390 | $2,190 | $3,630 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,246 | $4,684 | $7,021 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 22.1% | 25.1% | 29.8% |
Maryland local income tax for residents of Wicomico County (the principal city’s county). State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury, MD | — | 95.6 | $1,428 | $1,140 |
| Lexington Park, MD · compare | 47 mi | 100.8 | $1,787 | $564 (−$576) |
| Dover, DE · compare | 54 mi | 97.5 | $1,629 | $1,089 (−$51) |
| Vineland, NJ · compare | 82 mi | 96.0 | $1,704 | $959 (−$181) |
| Baltimore, MD · compare | 84 mi | 104.5 | $2,006 | $549 (−$591) |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV · compare | 85 mi | 108.9 | $2,438 | $81 (−$1,059) |
| Atlantic City, NJ · compare | 92 mi | 98.9 | $1,899 | $812 (−$328) |
Common moves to and from Salisbury, MD
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Baltimore, MD4,401
- Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV3,509
Frequently asked questions
Is Salisbury, MD expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Salisbury, MD metro at 95.6 (US = 100) in 2024 — 4.4% below the national average and the 154th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 87.2, goods 96.6.
What salary do you need to live in Salisbury, MD?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,849 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,140 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Salisbury, MD?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,102 for a 1-bedroom and $1,428 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,274.
Does Salisbury have a local income tax?+
Maryland local income tax for residents of Wicomico County (the principal city’s county). On $75,000 a single filer would owe about $2,190 a year in local tax under our 2026 data.