What is the cost of living in Dundalk, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dundalk has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Dundalk has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Dundalk ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Dundalk ranks as the #185 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Dundalk, check out:
Dundalk Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dundalk. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dundalk is 104.
The Groceries index in Dundalk is 110.
The Health index in Dundalk is 100.
The Housing index in Dundalk is 111.
The Transportation index in Dundalk is 110.
The Utilities index in Dundalk is 113.
| Living Expense | Dundalk | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 100 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 109 | 100 |
Dundalk 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 Dundalk Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dundalk, 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 Dundalk is $222,673.
The Median Rent in Dundalk is $1,473.
The Median Income in Dundalk is $64,520.
The Home Value To Income in Dundalk is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dundalk is 0.27x.
Dundalk, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Dundalk Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Dundalk Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Dundalk Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Dundalk Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Dundalk SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dundalk
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dundalk. 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, 1.0x Dundalk.
Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 138, 1.3x Dundalk.
Bel Air South, MD has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x Dundalk.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dundalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 573,243 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Columbia, MD | 104,338 | 138 | 1.3x |
| Bel Air South, MD | 58,137 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Essex, MD | 40,580 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Severna Park, MD | 40,228 | 154 | 1.5x |
| Middle River, MD | 31,712 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.3x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 1.3x |
| Arnold, MD | 24,303 | 144 | 1.4x |
| Rosedale, MD | 20,002 | 112 | 1.1x |








