What is the cost of living in Arbutus, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arbutus has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Arbutus has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Arbutus ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Arbutus ranks as the #158 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Arbutus, check out:
Arbutus Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arbutus. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arbutus is 104.
The Groceries index in Arbutus is 110.
The Health index in Arbutus is 130.
The Housing index in Arbutus is 108.
The Transportation index in Arbutus is 102.
The Utilities index in Arbutus is 108.
| Living Expense | Arbutus | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 130 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 109 | 100 |
Arbutus Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Arbutus Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arbutus, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arbutus is $330,132.
The Median Rent in Arbutus is $1,318.
The Median Income in Arbutus is $99,090.
The Home Value To Income in Arbutus is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arbutus is 0.16x.
Arbutus, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Arbutus Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Arbutus Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Arbutus Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Arbutus Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Arbutus SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arbutus
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arbutus. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Baltimore, MD has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Arbutus.
Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 138, 1.2x Arbutus.
Bowie, MD has a cost of living index of 133, 1.2x Arbutus.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arbutus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 573,243 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Columbia, MD | 104,338 | 138 | 1.2x |
| Bowie, MD | 57,926 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Catonsville, MD | 43,368 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Severna Park, MD | 40,228 | 154 | 1.3x |
| Crofton, MD | 29,549 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.2x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 1.2x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Ferndale, MD | 17,529 | 118 | 1.0x |








