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Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Cost of living in Montgomery County, MD

Part of the Washington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,559/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 1,057,586 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,056 45%
Federal tax $886 19%
Healthcare $480 11%
Groceries $382 8%
Transport $250 5%
State tax $246 5%
Energy $204 4%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Montgomery County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$2,012
per month
1 bedroom
$2,056
per month
2 bedroom
$2,314
per month
3 bedroom
$2,893
per month
4 bedroom
$3,413
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Montgomery County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$128,733
per year
Individual earnings
$63,375
per year
Per capita
$66,124
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Montgomery County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$615,200
Annual property tax
$5,341

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Montgomery County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$150
per month · 16.7¢/kWh
Natural gas
$54
per month
Annual total
$2,448
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Montgomery County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Montgomery County

State and local tax rates for Maryland.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Montgomery County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
32.4 min
Drive alone
54.2%
Public transit
8.5%
Work from home
25.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Montgomery County

What it costs to live in Montgomery County each month.

Single person
$4,559
per month
  • Rent $2,056
  • Energy $204
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $382
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $886
  • State tax $246
Couple
$6,804
per month
  • Rent $2,314
  • Energy $245
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $633
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,821
  • State tax $512
Family
$9,567
per month
  • Rent $2,893
  • Energy $306
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $960
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,821
  • State tax $512

Frequently asked questions about Montgomery County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Montgomery County?

In Montgomery County, MD, a one-bedroom apartment averages $2,056 per month, a two-bedroom averages $2,314 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,893 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Montgomery County?

In Montgomery County, MD, the average household income is $128,733 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $63,375 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Montgomery County?

The estimated cost of living in Montgomery County, MD is approximately $4,559 per month for a single person, $6,804 for a couple, $9,567 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Montgomery County?

The combined sales tax rate in Montgomery County, MD is 6.00%, which includes the Maryland state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.00%.

Is Montgomery County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Montgomery County, MD would need approximately $4,559 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $128,733 per year ($10,728 per month). Montgomery County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Montgomery County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Montgomery County, MD is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Montgomery County?

The average home value in Montgomery County, MD is $615,200, with average annual property taxes of $5,341, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Montgomery County compare to other areas?

You can compare Montgomery County, MD with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Montgomery County is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.

Other counties in Maryland

Browse the full list of counties in Maryland, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Maryland

Compare Montgomery County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources