What is the cost of living in Silver Spring, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Silver Spring has an overall cost of living index of 155, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Silver Spring has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Silver Spring ranks as #176 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Silver Spring ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Silver Spring, check out:
Silver Spring Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Silver Spring. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Silver Spring is 105.
The Groceries index in Silver Spring is 110.
The Health index in Silver Spring is 261.
The Housing index in Silver Spring is 113.
The Transportation index in Silver Spring is 103.
The Utilities index in Silver Spring is 108.
| Living Expense | Silver Spring | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 155 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 261 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 109 | 100 |
Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring is $550,712.
The Median Rent in Silver Spring is $1,913.
The Median Income in Silver Spring is $99,860.
The Home Value To Income in Silver Spring is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Silver Spring is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Silver Spring | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $550,712 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,913 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $99,860 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Silver Spring, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Silver Spring Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Silver Spring | 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 Silver Spring Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Silver Spring | 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 Silver Spring Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Silver Spring | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Silver Spring Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Silver Spring | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Silver Spring Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | Silver Spring | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
Silver Spring SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Silver Spring
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Silver Spring. 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, 1.0x Silver Spring.
North Laurel, MD has a cost of living index of 137, 0.9x Silver Spring.
North Potomac, MD has a cost of living index of 176, 1.1x Silver Spring.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Silver Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.0x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 0.9x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.1x |
| Langley Park, MD | 21,508 | 118 | 0.8x |
| Takoma Park, MD | 17,632 | 156 | 1.0x |
| Adelphi, MD | 17,395 | 127 | 0.8x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.9x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.5x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 1.7x |
