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State cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Cost of Living in Maryland

Statewide Regional Price Parities for Maryland from the Bureau of Economic Analysis — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100, across 4 metro areas.

105.0
Statewide RPP
#8
of 51 states by cost
121.1
Rents RPP
4
Metro areas

The verdict

Maryland is more expensive than 84% of U.S. states — a statewide cost index of 105.0, 5.0% above the national average.

105.0
statewide cost index (US average = 100)
#8
of 51 states by overall cost
top 16%
nationally, among all states
121.1
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $95,275 when earned in Maryland.

Reading the Maryland Cost of Living Picture

The Bureau of Economic Analysis places Maryland's statewide Regional Price Parity at 105.0 for the 2024 data year, 5.0% more expensive the U.S. baseline of 100. Inside the headline figure, the state's rents line runs hottest at 121.1. That internal spread — rather than the single state number — is what determines whether a household actually feels priced in or priced out.

Maryland captures 4 metro areas in the BEA dataset, and the range across them is meaningful. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD leads on cost at 104.5, while Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV sits at the opposite end at 94.2 — a gap of 10.3 index points inside a single state. For goods the state indexes at 102.5, for services 110.9, and for rents 121.1 — the rent figure tends to be the most volatile input and deserves its own line-item review before any relocation decision.

Over time, Maryland's statewide index has eased by 3.9 points, narrowing the premium versus lower-cost states. Practically, this means a $100,000 national salary delivers the purchasing power of about $95,275 of national buying power when earned inside Maryland, and a household relocating here would need roughly $104,959 to reproduce a $100K lifestyle. Pair these numbers with metro-specific wage data and rent tables before treating the statewide figure as your planning assumption.

105.0
Overall
102.5
Goods
110.9
Services
121.1
Rents

Maryland vs every U.S. state

Where this state sits in the national cost distribution

105 Top 16% higher than 84% of 51 US states

84–87: 2 US states (4%). Below this entry. 87–90: 7 US states (14%). Below this entry. 90–93: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 93–96: 6 US states (12%). Below this entry. 96–99: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 99–102: 5 US states (10%). Below this entry. 102–105: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 105–108: 3 US states (6%). This entry sits in this band. 108–111: 4 US states (8%). Above this entry. 111–114: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. 114–117: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. This state 84 117 every US state (incl. DC), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Most Expensive in Maryland → Cheapest in Maryland →

Metro areas in Maryland, ranked by cost

# Metro area OverallGoodsServicesRents
1 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson 104.5 102.4 110.2 118.2
2 Lexington Park 100.8 99.7 106.4 103.8
3 Salisbury 95.6 96.6 102.8 87.2
4 Hagerstown-Martinsburg 94.2 96.4 95.7 75.7

The Rents RPP index measures housing costs relative to the national average (100). For the federal 40th-percentile Fair Market Rent by bedroom size and county, see the HUD Fair Market Rents dataset.

RPP History

Year Overall
2008 108.8
2009 110.4
2010 108.4
2011 109.3
2012 107.4
2013 108.5
2014 107.9
2015 107.9
2016 107.2
2017 106.8
2018 106.3
2019 105.1
2020 106.4
2021 106.1
2022 104.9
2023 104.6
2024 105.0

What this means in Maryland

The statewide index is a starting point — cost varies metro to metro within Maryland.

  • Don't rely on the state figure alone: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson (104.5) and Hagerstown-Martinsburg (94.2) sit 10 index points apart inside Maryland. Check your specific metro.
  • Rents index at 121.1 (21.1% above average) — the largest swing in the RPP. Review the housing line before any relocation decision. Highest rents
  • Weighing Maryland against another state? Convert your salary to local purchasing power first. Salary calculator

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark (national average = 100) for the data year shown — pair it with local wages and current rents before deciding.

Cost of Living Guides

Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Cost of Living vs Wages
Where your dollar goes furthest
Understanding Regional Price Parities
How BEA constructs RPP data

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Maryland? ▼
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 105.0, meaning it is 5.0% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 102.5, services at 110.9, and rents at 121.1.
What salary in Maryland equals $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $104,959 in Maryland. Conversely, $100K earned in Maryland has the purchasing power of $95,275 at the national average.
Is housing expensive in Maryland? ▼
Rents in Maryland are indexed at 121.1, which is 21.1% above the national average. Housing costs are significantly higher than typical U.S. levels.
Which is the most expensive metro in Maryland? ▼
The most expensive metro area in Maryland is Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD with an RPP of 104.5. The most affordable is Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV at 94.2. There are 4 metro areas in Maryland with BEA price data.
Is Maryland getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Maryland's overall cost index changed by -3.9 points (from 108.8 to 105.0). The cost of living has been declining.
What is most expensive in Maryland compared to the U.S. average? ▼
The most expensive category in Maryland is rents at 121.1, which is 21.1% above the national average. All other categories are at or above the national average.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Index where national average = 100

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.