Cost of living in Maryland
Prices in Maryland are 5.0% above the US average (8th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,199 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Maryland
| BEA RPP 2024 | Maryland | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Goods | 102.5 | +2.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.1 | +21.1% |
| Utilities | 110.9 | +10.9% |
| Other services | 101.6 | +1.6% |
Metros in Maryland
Metros whose principal city is in Maryland. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 2,857,781 | 104.5 | $2,006 | $250 | $549 |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV | 315,280 | 94.2 | $1,284 | $254 | $1,271 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 211,176 | 100.8 | $1,787 | $254 | $564 |
| Salisbury, MD | 131,872 | 95.6 | $1,428 | $209 | $1,140 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Maryland: Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
Taxes in Maryland (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Maryland income tax | $2,011 | $3,199 | $5,370 | $4,721 |
| Maryland payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,362 | $4,866 | $7,323 | $8,372 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Maryland’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,199 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Maryland
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $254 | $16,174 | $177 |
| Toddler (2) | $175 | $11,143 | $156 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $175 | $11,143 | $156 |
| School-age (5–12) | $163 | $10,335 | $129 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $209 a week in Wicomico County to $414 in Howard County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 24 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City | $229,600 | $3,354 | 1.46% |
| Howard County | $597,900 | $6,987 | 1.17% |
| Prince George's County | $426,000 | $4,771 | 1.12% |
| Baltimore County | $349,300 | $3,736 | 1.07% |
| Charles County | $428,500 | $4,339 | 1.01% |
| Anne Arundel County | $467,900 | $3,957 | 0.85% |
| Calvert County | $460,200 | $3,885 | 0.84% |
| St. Mary's County | $407,600 | $3,424 | 0.84% |
| Washington County | $296,100 | $2,481 | 0.84% |
| Queen Anne's County | $462,700 | $3,623 | 0.78% |
Five highest and five lowest of 17 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Maryland
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 164,290 in, 158,685 out (net +5,605).
- Virginia28,004 ±5,694
- District of Columbia16,780 ±3,634
- Pennsylvania12,638 ±2,389
- New York12,198 ±3,420
- California11,078 ±3,398
- Texas10,467 ±3,471
- Florida9,358 ±2,214
- North Carolina6,410 ±2,300
- Virginia25,183 ±4,200
- Pennsylvania18,254 ±3,761
- Florida16,358 ±3,488
- Texas9,407 ±2,767
- California8,901 ±2,151
- North Carolina8,874 ±2,299
- New York8,400 ±2,298
- Delaware7,026 ±2,233
Frequently asked questions
Is Maryland expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Maryland’s overall price level at 105.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 8th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 121.1 and goods 102.5.
Does Maryland have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,199 in Maryland income tax under 2026 law (4.3% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Maryland?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Maryland?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Hagerstown, MD-WV leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,271), and Baltimore, MD the least ($549).