Cost of Living in Maryland: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Maryland? doxo breaks down key insights about Maryland’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Maryland pays $2,505 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Maryland’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Maryland ranks as the 5th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Maryland is ranked as the 5th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $30,060 per year, Maryland’s household expenses, on average, are 22% higher than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Maryland households spend 28% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Maryland is 122.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $2,505 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 122
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #5
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 28%
- Compared to the National Median: 22% higher
Maryland Household Expenses are 22% Higher Than the National Median
The average Maryland household pays $2,505 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Maryland is $70, compared to the national median of $74, making it 5% lower than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Maryland residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,952, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 22% more expensive.
Median Maryland Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Maryland Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Maryland Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,952 | $1,775 | 22% higher |
| Rent | $1,668 | $1,453 | 15% higher |
| Auto Loan | $500 | $470 | 6% higher |
| Auto Insurance | $150 | $105 | 43% higher |
| Health Insurance | $58 | $72 | 19% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $101 | $96 | 5% higher |
| Cable & Internet | $125 | $121 | 3% higher |
| Life Insurance | $68 | $60 | 13% higher |
| Alarm & Security | $70 | $74 | 5% lower |
| Total | $2,505 | $2,065 | 22% higher |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Gibson Island has the highest cost of living in Maryland for household bills
Residents of Gibson Island pay the highest household bills in the state of Maryland, at a median of $4,239 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Gibson Island is 205, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 105% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Gibson Island make up 20% of the median annual household income of $250,000.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Maryland Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Gibson Island | $250,000 | $4,239 | 205 | 105% higher | 20% |
| 2 | Brinklow | $242,721 | $4,042 | 196 | 96% higher | 20% |
| 3 | Cooksville | $250,000 | $4,040 | 196 | 96% higher | 19% |
| 4 | Fulton | $250,000 | $3,983 | 193 | 93% higher | 19% |
| 5 | Glenelg | $250,000 | $3,864 | 187 | 87% higher | 19% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Luke has the lowest cost of living in Maryland for household bills
Luke is the most affordable place in Maryland, with residents paying $957 on average for household bills, accounting for 16% of annual income of $73,125. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Luke is 46, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 54% below the national median.
Midlothian is the second most affordable city in Maryland, with residents paying $1,051 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Maryland are Flintstone ($1,073), Rawlings ($1,078) and Morganza ($1,112).
5 Most Affordable Maryland Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Luke | $73,125 | $957 | 46 | 54% lower | 16% |
| 2 | Midlothian | $60,158 | $1,051 | 51 | 49% lower | 21% |
| 3 | Flintstone | $63,904 | $1,073 | 52 | 48% lower | 20% |
| 4 | Rawlings | $33,646 | $1,078 | 52 | 48% lower | 38% |
| 5 | Morganza | $117,571 | $1,112 | 54 | 46% lower | 11% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Maryland with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.