What is the cost of living in Laurel, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laurel has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Laurel has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Laurel ranks as #82 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Laurel ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Laurel, check out:
Laurel Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laurel. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laurel is 103.
The Groceries index in Laurel is 108.
The Health index in Laurel is 158.
The Housing index in Laurel is 109.
The Transportation index in Laurel is 113.
The Utilities index in Laurel is 116.
| Living Expense | Laurel | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 158 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 109 | 100 |
Laurel 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 Laurel Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Laurel, 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 Laurel is $476,647.
The Median Rent in Laurel is $1,873.
The Median Income in Laurel is $100,504.
The Home Value To Income in Laurel is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laurel is 0.22x.
Laurel, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Laurel Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Laurel Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Laurel Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Laurel Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Laurel SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laurel
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laurel. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 1.2x Laurel.
Ilchester, MD has a cost of living index of 139, 1.1x Laurel.
Fairland, MD has a cost of living index of 135, 1.1x Laurel.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laurel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.1x |
| Fairland, MD | 26,231 | 135 | 1.1x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.2x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.2x |
| Scaggsville, MD | 10,564 | 165 | 1.3x |
| Burtonsville, MD | 10,203 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 2.0x |
| Savage, MD | 8,239 | 131 | 1.0x |
