D
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Suitland Maryland National
Cost of living120119100
Goods & Services117106100
Groceries105106100
Health care11097100
Housing139150100
Transportation10698100
Utilities111111100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Suitland, MD

Knowing the cost of living in Suitland allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Suitland stands at 120, marking it 20% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Suitland cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 38.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Suitland, these items will cost you 16.6% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

Is Suitland Affordable?

Is Suitland affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Suitland, for instance, where the median home price falls 34.7% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 48.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Suitland flaunting a median household income of $62,617, 13.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Suitland?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Suitland, the utilities index registers at 10.6% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Suitland, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Suitland cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Suitland is 1% higher than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in Suitland is 20% higher than the national average
  • Suitland housing is 39% higher than the national average
  • Maryland general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Maryland state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Suitland

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Compare Suitland, MD Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$90,215$7,518$2,105$2,707
      Renters$52,463$4,372$1,224$1,574
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Suitland, MD, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Suitland homeowners, is $90,215. This would allow for a maximum of $2,105 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $52,463 which would result in a maximum of $1,224 to be spent on rental costs.

      Maryland Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Maryland 6% 6%

      Maryland Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Maryland 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $41.31$24.2670.3%
      Beauty Salon $73.33$45.5660.9%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.0%
      Shampoo $1.63$1.2827.4%
      Movie $15.72$12.1329.6%
      Bowling $24.56$18.0036.4%

      Groceries

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.72$5.842.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.31$1.5716.5%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $5.15$4.934.5%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.41$10.419.6%

      Health Care

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.83$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $156.21$135.7815.0%
      Dentist $135.09$113.2919.2%
      Ibuprofen $12.28$10.6515.3%
      Lipitor $426.27$468.609.0%

      Housing

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $248,700.00$184,700.0034.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,844.08$2,346.69149.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,409.00$949.0048.5%

      Transportation

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.37$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $75.27$59.9225.6%

      Utilities

      Item Suitland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.70$193.9917.4%
      Phone $190.71$192.250.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cedarville, MD5771099.3%
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247945.9%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621022.0%
      Cottage City, MD1,1501088.4%
      Suitland, MD25,27312019.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Franklin, IN25,276936.8%
      El Cerrito, CA25,280201100.8%
      Prince Edward County, ON25,289n/a 
      Clinton, IA25,2908614.4%
      Mount Pleasant, MI25,2908911.3%
      Suitland, MD25,27312019.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.