F
32%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
93%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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 Eldersburg Maryland National
Cost of living132120100
Goods & Services107108100
Groceries102106100
Health care94106100
Housing193151100
Transportation100100100
Utilities118114100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Eldersburg, MD

The cost of living in Eldersburg affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Eldersburg is 132, which is 32% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Eldersburg is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Eldersburg falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Eldersburg, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 93.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Eldersburg Affordable?

Is Eldersburg affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Eldersburg, the median home price is 121.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 27.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Eldersburg boasting a median household income of $190,542, 134.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Eldersburg?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Eldersburg starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 2%.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Eldersburg, the groceries index is 2.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Eldersburg 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Eldersburg is 10% higher than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in Eldersburg is 32% higher than the national average
  • Eldersburg housing is 93% higher than the national average
  • Maryland general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Maryland state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Eldersburg

See all the best places to live around Eldersburg

Compare Eldersburg, 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$196,752$16,396$4,591$5,903
      Renters$86,417$7,201$2,016$2,593
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Eldersburg, MD, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Eldersburg, the median monthly income is $196,752 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $4,591 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $86,417, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,016 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.03$27.625.1%
      Beauty Salon $66.19$51.1129.5%
      Toothpaste $4.10$4.090.2%
      Shampoo $1.75$1.5413.5%
      Movie $16.90$12.8831.2%
      Yoga $26.29$19.6633.7%

      Groceries

      Item Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.11$7.705.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.77$4.730.8%
      Potatoes $5.46$5.263.9%
      Pizza $14.70$12.7615.2%
      Beer $10.11$10.554.2%

      Health Care

      Item Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.39$140.0615.5%
      Doctor $143.94$153.826.4%
      Dentist $121.86$123.151.0%
      Ibuprofen $12.13$11.733.4%
      Lipitor $19.25$23.6118.5%

      Housing

      Item Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      Home Price $724,350.00$326,622.00121.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,003.64$2,480.2519.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,835.00$1,444.0027.1%

      Transportation

      Item Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.09$3.061.1%
      Tire Balancing $64.00$65.211.9%

      Utilities

      Item Eldersburg National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $276.90$220.1225.8%
      Phone $204.16$195.714.3%
      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.
      Middleburg, MD01066.0%
      Union Bridge, MD9931065.9%
      Woodlawn CDP (Prince George's County), MD8,0711099.1%
      Lochearn, MD26,21611010.1%
      Hampstead, MD6,56911110.7%
      Eldersburg, MD31,30113232.2%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gloucester, MA31,31514444.0%
      Lawrenceville, GA31,3161010.7%
      Grimsby, ON31,320n/a 
      Elizabethtown, KY31,333964.4%
      Opelika, AL31,335973.0%
      Eldersburg, MD31,30113232.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.