| Index | Arbutus | Maryland | National |
| Cost of living | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 130 | 151 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 111 | 112 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Arbutus is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Arbutus is 114, which is 14% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Arbutus cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 30.4% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Arbutus 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 Arbutus, for instance, where the median home price falls 35% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 19.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Arbutus flaunting a median household income of $117,945, 45% higher than the national norm.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Arbutus, the transportation index is 7.4% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Arbutus comes in at 4.4% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.
The Arbutus cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $159,063 | $13,255 | $3,711 | $4,772 |
| Renters | $64,240 | $5,353 | $1,499 | $1,927 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Maryland | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Maryland | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Dundalk, MD | 65,241 | 106 | 5.9% |
| Lansdowne, MD | 8,964 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Baltimore, MD | 621,744 | 108 | 7.9% |
| Essex, MD | 40,724 | 108 | 7.7% |
| Woodlawn CDP (Prince George's County), MD | 8,071 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Arbutus, MD | 19,966 | 114 | 13.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Montrose, CO | 19,970 | 111 | 10.6% |
| Evergreen Park, IL | 19,979 | 105 | 4.7% |
| Johnstown, PA | 19,980 | 79 | 21.3% |
| Camrose, AB | 19,951 | n/a | |
| Murray, KY | 19,988 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Arbutus, MD | 19,966 | 114 | 13.8% |
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