What is the cost of living in Bowie, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bowie has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Bowie has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Bowie ranks as #116 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Bowie ranks as the #79 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Bowie, check out:
Bowie Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bowie. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bowie is 103.
The Groceries index in Bowie is 109.
The Health index in Bowie is 200.
The Housing index in Bowie is 107.
The Transportation index in Bowie is 104.
The Utilities index in Bowie is 105.
| Living Expense | Bowie | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 200 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 109 | 100 |
Bowie 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 Bowie Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bowie, 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 Bowie is $524,117.
The Median Rent in Bowie is $2,330.
The Median Income in Bowie is $141,995.
The Home Value To Income in Bowie is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bowie is 0.2x.
Bowie, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Bowie Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bowie Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bowie Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bowie Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Bowie SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bowie
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bowie. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Crofton, MD has a cost of living index of 140, 1.1x Bowie.
Ilchester, MD has a cost of living index of 139, 1.0x Bowie.
North Laurel, MD has a cost of living index of 137, 1.0x Bowie.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bowie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton, MD | 29,549 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.0x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Lake Arbor, MD | 14,335 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Kettering, MD | 14,014 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Glenn Dale, MD | 13,772 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Lanham, MD | 11,433 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Mitchellville, MD | 11,359 | 137 | 1.0x |
