What is the cost of living in Mount Rainier, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mount Rainier has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Mount Rainier has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Mount Rainier ranks as #116 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Mount Rainier ranks as the #79 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Mount Rainier, check out:
Mount Rainier Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mount Rainier. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mount Rainier is 106.
The Groceries index in Mount Rainier is 106.
The Health index in Mount Rainier is 194.
The Housing index in Mount Rainier is 108.
The Transportation index in Mount Rainier is 110.
The Utilities index in Mount Rainier is 106.
| Living Expense | Mount Rainier | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 194 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 109 | 100 |
Mount Rainier 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 Mount Rainier Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mount Rainier, 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 Mount Rainier is $448,596.
The Median Rent in Mount Rainier is $1,457.
The Median Income in Mount Rainier is $68,505.
The Home Value To Income in Mount Rainier is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mount Rainier is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Mount Rainier | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $448,596 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,457 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,505 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Mount Rainier, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Mount Rainier Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Mount Rainier | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.63 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.72 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $41.31 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $73.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mount Rainier Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Mount Rainier | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.72 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.31 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.41 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.7 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mount Rainier Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Mount Rainier | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.83 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $156.21 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $135.09 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mount Rainier Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Mount Rainier | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.27 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mount Rainier Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Mount Rainier | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.7 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.71 | $192.25 |
Mount Rainier SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mount Rainier
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mount Rainier. 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 Mount Rainier.
Chillum, MD has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Mount Rainier.
North Laurel, MD has a cost of living index of 137, 1.0x Mount Rainier.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mount Rainier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Chillum, MD | 34,871 | 127 | 1.0x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.0x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.3x |
| Hyattsville, MD | 20,966 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.7x |
| Bladensburg, MD | 9,583 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Four Corners, MD | 8,150 | 154 | 1.2x |
