Cost Of Living in Urbana, MD

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F

59%

Overall NAT. AVG.

4%

Groceries NAT. AVG.

178%

Housing NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.

The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index	Urbana	Maryland	National
Cost of living	159	121	100
Groceries	104	105	100
Health care	110	109	100
Housing	278	151	100
Transportation	108	109	100
Utilities	109	108	100
Lifestyle & Entertainment	110	109	100
Household Items	105	105	100
Education & Childcare	111	112	100

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Homes For Sale In Urbana, MD

9070 McPherson St

Frederick, MD

8634 Shady Pines Dr

Frederick, MD

3645 Islington St

Frederick, MD

9060 Major Smith Ln

Frederick, MD

An Overview of Cost of Living in Urbana, MD

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Urbana? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Urbana stands at 159, making it 59% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Urbana is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Urbana falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Urbana 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 178.3% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Urbana Affordable?

Is Urbana 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 Urbana, for instance, where the median home price falls 198.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 131.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Urbana flaunting a median household income of $225,891, 177.7% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Urbana?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Urbana, the groceries index registers 4.4% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Urbana, the transportation index is 8.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Urbana, is 178.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Urbana cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

The cost of living in Urbana is 32% higher than the Maryland average
The cost of living in Urbana is 59% higher than the national average
Urbana housing is 178% 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

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Price difference in compared to

Cost of living index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index
Lifestyle index
Household index
Educare index

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median Income	Per Year	Per Month	Max Budget (28% DTI)	Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners	$245,371	$20,448	$5,725	$7,362
Renters	$183,173	$15,264	$4,274	$5,496

The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Urbana, MD, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Urbana, homeowners have a median income of $245,371. Using that number, a maximum of $5,725 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $183,173, which means there is a maximum of $4,274 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

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%

Nearby cities with low cost of living

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Libertytown, MD	855	117	16.8%
Leisure World, MD	9,569	119	19.1%
Frederick, MD	73,590	120	20.2%
Summerfield, MD	14,929	123	22.6%
Ballenger Creek, MD	22,229	124	23.6%
Urbana, MD	12,811	159	58.9%

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Brighton, ON	12,811	n/a
Bedford, OH	12,807	86	14.1%
Cheney, WA	12,816	113	13.1%
Conneaut, OH	12,804	86	14.2%
Boone, IA	12,825	87	13.2%
Urbana, MD	12,811	159	58.9%

Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.