What is the cost of living in Towson, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Towson has an overall cost of living index of 135, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Towson has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Towson ranks as #130 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Towson ranks as the #65 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Towson, check out:
Towson Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Towson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Towson is 103.
The Groceries index in Towson is 107.
The Health index in Towson is 193.
The Housing index in Towson is 115.
The Transportation index in Towson is 111.
The Utilities index in Towson is 108.
| Living Expense | Towson | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 135 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 193 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 109 | 100 |
Towson 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 Towson Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Towson, 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 Towson is $472,632.
The Median Rent in Towson is $1,764.
The Median Income in Towson is $101,320.
The Home Value To Income in Towson is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Towson is 0.21x.
Towson, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Towson Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Towson Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Towson Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Towson Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Towson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Towson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Towson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Baltimore, MD has a cost of living index of 109, 0.8x Towson.
Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 138, 1.0x Towson.
Bel Air South, MD has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x Towson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Towson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 573,243 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Columbia, MD | 104,338 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Bel Air South, MD | 58,137 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Pasadena, MD | 34,309 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Pikesville, MD | 33,524 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Eldersburg, MD | 31,695 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Bel Air North, MD | 31,302 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Parkville, MD | 30,549 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Carney, MD | 28,343 | 119 | 0.9x |
