What is the cost of living in Fort Washington, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Washington has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Fort Washington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Fort Washington ranks as #142 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Fort Washington ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Fort Washington, check out:
Fort Washington Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Washington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Washington is 100.
The Groceries index in Fort Washington is 101.
The Health index in Fort Washington is 218.
The Housing index in Fort Washington is 111.
The Transportation index in Fort Washington is 101.
The Utilities index in Fort Washington is 106.
| Living Expense | Fort Washington | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 218 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 109 | 100 |
Fort Washington 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 Washington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Washington, 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 Washington is $451,687.
The Median Rent in Fort Washington is $2,690.
The Median Income in Fort Washington is $143,333.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Washington is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Washington is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Fort Washington | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $451,687 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,690 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $143,333 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.2x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Fort Washington, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Washington Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Washington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.08 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.34 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.51 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.63 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Washington Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Washington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.08 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Washington Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Washington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.12 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.82 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $98.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Washington Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Washington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.7 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Washington Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Fort Washington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $213.29 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Fort Washington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Washington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Washington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bethesda, MD has a cost of living index of 204, 1.5x Fort Washington.
Burke, VA has a cost of living index of 159, 1.2x Fort Washington.
Oxon Hill, MD has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Fort Washington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda, MD | 69,397 | 204 | 1.5x |
| Burke, VA | 44,029 | 159 | 1.2x |
| Oxon Hill, MD | 17,893 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Hybla Valley, VA | 17,257 | 129 | 0.9x |
| Fort Hunt, VA | 16,700 | 189 | 1.4x |
| Accokeek, MD | 14,362 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Groveton, VA | 13,931 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Huntington, VA | 13,502 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Mount Vernon, VA | 13,122 | 158 | 1.2x |
| Friendly, MD | 11,119 | 134 | 1.0x |








