South ranking
21 Maryland cities ranked by cost of living, cheapest first.
Index 109
Index 126
Sorted by cost-of-living index — lowest (most affordable) first.
| # | City | Cost index | Median rent | Median income | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 109 | $1,235/mo | $58,349 | 585K | Compare → |
| 2 | Dundalk | 109 | $1,346/mo | $61,217 | 66K | Compare → |
| 3 | Glen Burnie | 109 | $1,489/mo | $86,283 | 71K | Compare → |
| 4 | Bel Air South | 109 | $1,502/mo | $113,739 | 57K | Compare → |
| 5 | Towson | 110 | $1,695/mo | $98,425 | 58K | Compare → |
| 6 | Columbia | 110 | $1,895/mo | $124,537 | 107K | Compare → |
| 7 | Ellicott City | 110 | $1,921/mo | $149,534 | 74K | Compare → |
| 8 | Severn | 111 | $2,033/mo | $125,330 | 56K | Compare → |
| 9 | Odenton | 111 | $2,161/mo | $120,280 | 45K | Compare → |
| 10 | Frederick | 120 | $1,614/mo | $89,981 | 78K | Compare → |
| 11 | Germantown | 120 | $1,908/mo | $109,268 | 90K | Compare → |
| 12 | Gaithersburg | 121 | $1,925/mo | $104,544 | 69K | Compare → |
| 13 | Silver Spring | 123 | $1,826/mo | $95,213 | 82K | Compare → |
| 14 | Waldorf | 123 | $1,871/mo | $111,454 | 81K | Compare → |
| 15 | Aspen Hill | 123 | $1,885/mo | $104,582 | 54K | Compare → |
| 16 | Wheaton | 124 | $2,039/mo | $101,229 | 53K | Compare → |
| 17 | Rockville | 124 | $2,167/mo | $122,470 | 67K | Compare → |
| 18 | Bowie | 124 | $2,167/mo | $138,797 | 58K | Compare → |
| 19 | North Bethesda | 124 | $2,180/mo | $131,142 | 50K | Compare → |
| 20 | Bethesda | 125 | $2,312/mo | $185,546 | 66K | Compare → |
| 21 | Potomac | 126 | $2,584/mo | $218,710 | 46K | Compare → |
Why do people move to Maryland? The most common reasons line up with what the data and geography support: statewide income runs well above the national norm, a wide range of city sizes and styles, plus 1 more. The rest is below.
Median household income averaged across Maryland cities lands at about $116,697, well above the US median of roughly $75k. Maryland's economy leans heavily on industries that pay well — and the income distribution reflects it.
We track 21 Maryland cities with full cost data, ranging from small towns to major metros. That means you can actually pick a fit — urban density vs. small-town quiet, expensive vs. cheap, big-job-market vs. easier-commute — instead of having "the state's one big city" be your only option.
Maryland has Atlantic coastline — meaning the ocean is reachable without a flight, and for plenty of residents it's reachable in under an hour. That changes the rhythm of a year: summer plans default to the water, the weather is moderated by being near it, and a lot of the state's culture is tied to fishing, ports, or beach towns.
Reasons reflect aggregated city data for Maryland (Census ACS, BLS, BEA) plus well-known state-level geography. We only list points that are actually supported — different states show different sections.
Across Maryland, Baltimore is the most affordable city we track (cost index 109, with median rent around $1,235/mo), while Potomac sits at the top of the range with an index of 126—roughly 16% pricier than Baltimore. Use the table above to compare any Maryland city directly against Baltimore.
The other end of the ranking — priciest first.