What is the cost of living in Gaithersburg, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gaithersburg has an overall cost of living index of 141, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Gaithersburg has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Gaithersburg ranks as #157 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Gaithersburg ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Gaithersburg, check out:
Gaithersburg Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gaithersburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gaithersburg is 106.
The Groceries index in Gaithersburg is 111.
The Health index in Gaithersburg is 210.
The Housing index in Gaithersburg is 113.
The Transportation index in Gaithersburg is 114.
The Utilities index in Gaithersburg is 107.
| Living Expense | Gaithersburg | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 141 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 210 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 109 | 100 |
Gaithersburg 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 Gaithersburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gaithersburg, 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 Gaithersburg is $527,608.
The Median Rent in Gaithersburg is $2,058.
The Median Income in Gaithersburg is $112,467.
The Home Value To Income in Gaithersburg is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gaithersburg is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Gaithersburg | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $527,608 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,058 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $112,467 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Gaithersburg, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Gaithersburg Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Gaithersburg | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.51 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $70.08 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gaithersburg Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Gaithersburg | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.1 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gaithersburg Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Gaithersburg | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gaithersburg Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Gaithersburg | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gaithersburg Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Gaithersburg | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
Gaithersburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gaithersburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gaithersburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Germantown, MD has a cost of living index of 135, 1.0x Gaithersburg.
Rockville, MD has a cost of living index of 157, 1.1x Gaithersburg.
Potomac, MD has a cost of living index of 199, 1.4x Gaithersburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gaithersburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown, MD | 90,719 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Rockville, MD | 67,671 | 157 | 1.1x |
| Potomac, MD | 45,902 | 199 | 1.4x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.1x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 1.1x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.2x |
| Redland, MD | 18,665 | 141 | 1.0x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.0x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.6x |
