Before you decide to relocate to Maryland, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Maryland that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 42 places in Maryland with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Maryland for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Maryland For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Maryland? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Rockville is the most expensive place to live in Maryland.
Frostburg (the cheapest place to live in Maryland) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Maryland and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Maryland For 2026
/10
Population: 67,671
Cost Of Living Index: 157
Median Income: $128,649
Average Home Price: $618,892
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.8x
More on Rockville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Rockville is 157. The median income in Rockville comes in at $128,649 and the average home value is $618,892 for 2026.
/10
Population: 17,632
Cost Of Living Index: 156
Median Income: $108,136
Average Home Price: $686,398
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Takoma Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Takoma Park is 156. The median income in Takoma Park comes in at $108,136 and the average home value is $686,398 for 2026.
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Population: 5,764
Cost Of Living Index: 152
Median Income: $205,919
Average Home Price: $736,648
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Poolesville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Poolesville is 152. The median income in Poolesville comes in at $205,919 and the average home value is $736,648 for 2026.
/10
Population: 69,825
Cost Of Living Index: 141
Median Income: $112,467
Average Home Price: $527,608
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Gaithersburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Gaithersburg is 141. The median income in Gaithersburg comes in at $112,467 and the average home value is $527,608 for 2026.
/10
Population: 40,720
Cost Of Living Index: 139
Median Income: $113,860
Average Home Price: $618,837
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Annapolis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Annapolis is 139. The median income in Annapolis comes in at $113,860 and the average home value is $618,837 for 2026.
/10
Population: 9,805
Cost Of Living Index: 137
Median Income: $151,324
Average Home Price: $639,006
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Mount Airy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Mount Airy is 137. The median income in Mount Airy comes in at $151,324 and the average home value is $639,006 for 2026.
/10
Population: 57,926
Cost Of Living Index: 133
Median Income: $141,995
Average Home Price: $524,117
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Bowie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bowie is 133. The median income in Bowie comes in at $141,995 and the average home value is $524,117 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,245
Cost Of Living Index: 133
Median Income: $68,505
Average Home Price: $448,596
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Mount Rainier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Mount Rainier is 133. The median income in Mount Rainier comes in at $68,505 and the average home value is $448,596 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,456
Cost Of Living Index: 132
Median Income: $138,895
Average Home Price: $462,696
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Chesapeake Beach: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Chesapeake Beach is 132. The median income in Chesapeake Beach comes in at $138,895 and the average home value is $462,696 for 2026.
/10
Population: 20,966
Cost Of Living Index: 131
Median Income: $91,941
Average Home Price: $403,229
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.4x
More on Hyattsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hyattsville is 131. The median income in Hyattsville comes in at $91,941 and the average home value is $403,229 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Old Line State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Maryland are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Maryland to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 42 places in Maryland that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Maryland according to the data is Rockville. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Maryland.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Maryland For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Maryland that have the highest cost of living, with Rockville ranking as the most expensive city in the Old Line State.
The most expensive cities in Maryland are Rockville, Takoma Park, Poolesville, Gaithersburg, Annapolis, Mount Airy, Bowie, Mount Rainier, Chesapeake Beach, and Hyattsville.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Maryland according to the data:
- Frostburg
- Cumberland
- Hagerstown
For more Maryland reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Safest Places In Maryland
- Worst Places To Live In Maryland
Most Expensive Cities In Maryland
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockville | 157 | 67,671 | $128,649 | $618,892 | 4.8x |
| 2 | Takoma Park | 156 | 17,632 | $108,136 | $686,398 | 6.3x |
| 3 | Poolesville | 152 | 5,764 | $205,919 | $736,648 | 3.6x |
| 4 | Gaithersburg | 141 | 69,825 | $112,467 | $527,608 | 4.7x |
| 5 | Annapolis | 139 | 40,720 | $113,860 | $618,837 | 5.4x |
| 6 | Mount Airy | 137 | 9,805 | $151,324 | $639,006 | 4.2x |
| 7 | Bowie | 133 | 57,926 | $141,995 | $524,117 | 3.7x |
| 8 | Mount Rainier | 133 | 8,245 | $68,505 | $448,596 | 6.5x |
| 9 | Chesapeake Beach | 132 | 6,456 | $138,895 | $462,696 | 3.3x |
| 10 | Hyattsville | 131 | 20,966 | $91,941 | $403,229 | 4.4x |
| 11 | Cheverly | 130 | 6,096 | $123,535 | $468,344 | 3.8x |
| 12 | College Park | 127 | 34,540 | $69,721 | $437,694 | 6.3x |
| 13 | La Plata | 127 | 10,683 | $121,208 | $481,282 | 4.0x |
| 14 | Laurel | 126 | 29,798 | $100,504 | $476,647 | 4.7x |
| 15 | Walkersville | 126 | 6,414 | $130,893 | $466,393 | 3.6x |
| 16 | Riverdale Park | 125 | 7,270 | $120,043 | $486,910 | 4.1x |
| 17 | Glenarden | 122 | 6,344 | $106,414 | $413,332 | 3.9x |
| 18 | New Carrollton | 121 | 13,564 | $81,509 | $399,604 | 4.9x |
| 19 | Ocean City | 120 | 6,903 | $77,750 | $441,288 | 5.7x |
| 20 | Easton | 119 | 17,308 | $74,653 | $451,055 | 6.0x |
| 21 | Havre de Grace | 119 | 14,994 | $105,817 | $404,054 | 3.8x |
| 22 | Manchester | 119 | 5,439 | $121,676 | $462,577 | 3.8x |
| 23 | Frederick | 118 | 83,395 | $97,069 | $466,011 | 4.8x |
| 24 | Bel Air | 118 | 10,585 | $74,605 | $461,262 | 6.2x |
| 25 | Greenbelt | 117 | 24,678 | $85,997 | $285,335 | 3.3x |
| 26 | Bladensburg | 117 | 9,583 | $63,179 | $317,187 | 5.0x |
| 27 | Thurmont | 117 | 6,254 | $98,125 | $397,681 | 4.1x |
| 28 | District Heights | 115 | 5,891 | $86,955 | $342,105 | 3.9x |
| 29 | Westminster | 114 | 20,445 | $86,219 | $462,868 | 5.4x |
| 30 | Taneytown | 113 | 7,932 | $87,621 | $395,402 | 4.5x |
| 31 | Brunswick | 112 | 8,450 | $118,025 | $409,509 | 3.5x |
| 32 | Hampstead | 112 | 6,251 | $97,871 | $439,359 | 4.5x |
| 33 | Aberdeen | 110 | 17,298 | $74,826 | $343,947 | 4.6x |
| 34 | Berlin | 110 | 5,232 | $81,438 | $440,463 | 5.4x |
| 35 | Baltimore | 109 | 573,243 | $62,177 | $188,101 | 3.0x |
| 36 | Fruitland | 106 | 5,801 | $64,004 | $252,663 | 3.9x |
| 37 | Cambridge | 104 | 13,152 | $47,323 | $266,443 | 5.6x |
| 38 | Salisbury | 103 | 33,285 | $58,576 | $264,544 | 4.5x |
| 39 | Elkton | 103 | 15,910 | $58,640 | $367,248 | 6.3x |
| 40 | Hagerstown | 102 | 43,665 | $52,221 | $300,051 | 5.7x |
| 41 | Cumberland | 93 | 18,804 | $48,162 | $152,202 | 3.2x |
| 42 | Frostburg | 88 | 6,977 | $52,977 | $176,234 | 3.3x |