What is the cost of living in Ellicott City, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ellicott City has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Ellicott City has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Ellicott City ranks as #179 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Ellicott City ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Ellicott City, check out:
Ellicott City Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ellicott City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ellicott City is 109.
The Groceries index in Ellicott City is 111.
The Health index in Ellicott City is 264.
The Housing index in Ellicott City is 110.
The Transportation index in Ellicott City is 112.
The Utilities index in Ellicott City is 111.
| Living Expense | Ellicott City | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 264 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 109 | 100 |
Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City is $738,338.
The Median Rent in Ellicott City is $2,061.
The Median Income in Ellicott City is $156,964.
The Home Value To Income in Ellicott City is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ellicott City is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Ellicott City | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $738,338 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,061 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $156,964 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Ellicott City, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Ellicott City Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ellicott City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $58.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ellicott City Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ellicott City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.46 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ellicott City Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ellicott City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $114.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $133.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ellicott City Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ellicott City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ellicott City Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ellicott City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.91 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.62 | $192.25 |
