What is the cost of living in Ocean City, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ocean City has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Ocean City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Ocean City ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Ocean City ranks as the #134 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Ocean City, check out:
Ocean City Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ocean City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ocean City is 105.
The Groceries index in Ocean City is 109.
The Health index in Ocean City is 147.
The Housing index in Ocean City is 112.
The Transportation index in Ocean City is 108.
The Utilities index in Ocean City is 113.
| Living Expense | Ocean City | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 147 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 109 | 100 |
Ocean City 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 Ocean City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ocean City, 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 Ocean City is $441,288.
The Median Rent in Ocean City is $1,353.
The Median Income in Ocean City is $77,750.
The Home Value To Income in Ocean City is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ocean City is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Ocean City | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $441,288 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,353 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,750 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Ocean City, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Ocean City Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ocean City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.2 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.28 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.88 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ocean City Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ocean City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.34 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.39 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.81 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ocean City Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ocean City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $144.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.66 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ocean City Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ocean City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.4 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ocean City Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Ocean City | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.13 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
