What is the cost of living in Fort Meade, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Meade has an overall cost of living index of 145, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Fort Meade has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Fort Meade ranks as #163 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Fort Meade ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Fort Meade, check out:
Fort Meade Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Meade. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Meade is 109.
The Groceries index in Fort Meade is 106.
The Health index in Fort Meade is 228.
The Housing index in Fort Meade is 114.
The Transportation index in Fort Meade is 108.
The Utilities index in Fort Meade is 109.
| Living Expense | Fort Meade | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 145 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 228 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 109 | 100 |
Fort Meade 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 Fort Meade Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Meade, 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 Fort Meade is $0.
The Median Rent in Fort Meade is $2,435.
The Median Income in Fort Meade is $103,261.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Meade is 0.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Meade is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Fort Meade | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $0 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,435 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $103,261 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 0.0x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Fort Meade, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Meade Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Meade | 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 Fort Meade Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Meade | 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 Fort Meade Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Meade | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $114.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $133.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Meade Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Meade | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Meade Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Meade | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.91 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.62 | $192.25 |
Fort Meade SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Meade
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Meade. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Severn, MD has a cost of living index of 135, 0.9x Fort Meade.
Odenton, MD has a cost of living index of 133, 0.9x Fort Meade.
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 1.1x Fort Meade.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Meade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severn, MD | 58,402 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Odenton, MD | 45,002 | 133 | 0.9x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.1x |
| Laurel, MD | 29,798 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 0.9x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 0.9x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.0x |
| Jessup, MD | 9,931 | 130 | 0.9x |
