Maryland vs Delaware: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Maryland or Delaware?
- Overall, Delaware is 4.9% less expensive than Maryland (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Maryland works out to about $71,300 in Delaware, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 15.7% less in Delaware. Goods are 6.2% lower and other services 0.4% lower.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $55,185 in Delaware and $61,111 in Maryland (9.7% lower in Delaware; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run 97.5 in Dover, DE, its only metro area (Delaware) and from 94.2 in Hagerstown, MD to 104.5 in Baltimore, MD (Maryland), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (6.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 15.7% lower in Delaware than in Maryland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.0 | 99.8 |
| Goods | 102.5 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 121.1 | 102.0 |
| Utilities | 110.9 | 103.8 |
| Other services | 101.6 | 101.2 |
| Category | Maryland | Delaware | Delaware vs Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.0 | 99.8 | −4.9% |
| Goods | 102.5 | 96.2 | −6.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.1 | 102.0 | −15.7% |
| Utilities | 110.9 | 103.8 | −6.4% |
| Other services | 101.6 | 101.2 | −0.4% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $61,111 | $55,185 | −9.7% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.31 | $4.31 | 0.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Maryland | $75,000 | $71,300 | −4.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Central Atlantic region average (EIA has no separate Maryland figure). *Central Atlantic region average (EIA has no separate Delaware figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Maryland
- Hagerstown, MD 94.2
- Salisbury, MD 95.6
- Lexington Park, MD 100.8
- Philadelphia, PA 102.6
- Baltimore, MD 104.5
- Washington, DC 108.9
Delaware
- Dover, DE 97.5
- Philadelphia, PA 102.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Maryland and Delaware has narrowed since 2008: 8.1 points then, 5.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.8 | 100.8 |
| 2009 | 110.4 | 102.1 |
| 2010 | 108.4 | 101.5 |
| 2011 | 109.3 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 107.4 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 108.5 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 107.9 | 99.7 |
| 2015 | 107.9 | 97.9 |
| 2016 | 107.2 | 98.5 |
| 2017 | 106.8 | 98.5 |
| 2018 | 106.3 | 99.3 |
| 2019 | 105.1 | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 106.4 | 96.8 |
| 2021 | 106.1 | 97.4 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 98.0 |
| 2023 | 104.6 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 99.8 |
Goods
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.8 | 103.5 |
| 2009 | 107.8 | 101.9 |
| 2010 | 104.0 | 101.5 |
| 2011 | 104.8 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 103.6 | 99.4 |
| 2013 | 104.6 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 102.7 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 102.0 | 97.1 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 98.6 |
| 2017 | 101.9 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 102.4 | 96.8 |
| 2019 | 101.2 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 94.5 |
| 2021 | 103.5 | 94.5 |
| 2022 | 102.9 | 94.6 |
| 2023 | 103.2 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 102.5 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 132.4 | 93.7 |
| 2009 | 134.6 | 104.5 |
| 2010 | 133.4 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 135.5 | 98.2 |
| 2012 | 133.6 | 98.1 |
| 2013 | 137.4 | 98.9 |
| 2014 | 136.3 | 103.9 |
| 2015 | 131.5 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 128.8 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 127.7 | 94.7 |
| 2018 | 128.3 | 99.3 |
| 2019 | 128.3 | 96.0 |
| 2020 | 128.1 | 91.9 |
| 2021 | 124.2 | 97.0 |
| 2022 | 123.0 | 99.1 |
| 2023 | 119.9 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 121.1 | 102.0 |
Utilities
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 123.9 | 111.9 |
| 2009 | 128.5 | 117.7 |
| 2010 | 114.4 | 116.4 |
| 2011 | 108.4 | 117.2 |
| 2012 | 105.9 | 117.3 |
| 2013 | 107.9 | 111.7 |
| 2014 | 102.9 | 105.0 |
| 2015 | 107.2 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 114.1 | 103.0 |
| 2017 | 108.7 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 103.0 | 99.5 |
| 2019 | 104.0 | 99.6 |
| 2020 | 104.6 | 98.4 |
| 2021 | 105.1 | 93.5 |
| 2022 | 102.1 | 95.7 |
| 2023 | 108.7 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 110.9 | 103.8 |
Other services
- Maryland
- Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.0 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 104.1 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 103.9 | 101.5 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 98.9 |
| 2014 | 103.7 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 105.1 | 99.0 |
| 2016 | 103.9 | 99.5 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 102.8 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 101.1 | 101.7 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 100.0 |
| 2021 | 102.4 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 100.1 |
| 2023 | 100.8 | 99.4 |
| 2024 | 101.6 | 101.2 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $55,185 in Delaware, $61,111 in Maryland
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Maryland
- Delaware
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Maryland | Delaware | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $50,570 | $45,956 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $49,411 | $45,289 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $50,629 | $44,778 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $51,117 | $47,032 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $51,751 | $46,566 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $49,964 | $46,578 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $50,722 | $46,900 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $52,499 | $49,667 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $53,830 | $49,892 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $54,690 | $50,878 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $55,341 | $52,109 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $56,850 | $52,671 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $58,410 | $54,952 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $59,999 | $56,509 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $58,193 | $56,371 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $59,922 | $54,314 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $61,111 | $55,185 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Maryland
- Cost of living in Delaware
- Reverse: moving from Delaware to Maryland
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.