Cost of living in the Baltimore Metro Area
7 counties across MD. Population: 2,839,409.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Baltimore Metro Area
Average rent across the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Baltimore Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 7 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Baltimore Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Baltimore Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 7 counties in the Baltimore Metro Area
The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area includes 7 counties. Sorted by population.
- Towson MD$3,945/moPop849,586 Rent$1,604/mo Income$90,904/yrTowson MD 849,586 $1,604/mo $90,904/yr $3,945/mo
- Anne Arundel County MD$4,186/moPop590,936 Rent$1,604/mo Income$120,324/yrAnne Arundel County MD 590,936 $1,604/mo $120,324/yr $4,186/mo
- Baltimore MD$3,751/moPop577,193 Rent$1,604/mo Income$59,623/yrBaltimore MD 577,193 $1,604/mo $59,623/yr $3,751/mo
- Howard County MD$4,444/moPop333,916 Rent$1,604/mo Income$146,982/yrHoward County MD 333,916 $1,604/mo $146,982/yr $4,444/mo
- Harford County MD$4,090/moPop262,509 Rent$1,604/mo Income$111,317/yrHarford County MD 262,509 $1,604/mo $111,317/yr $4,090/mo
- Carroll County MD$4,095/moPop174,318 Rent$1,604/mo Income$115,876/yrCarroll County MD 174,318 $1,604/mo $115,876/yr $4,095/mo
- Queen Anne's County MD$4,016/moPop50,951 Rent$1,604/mo Income$113,347/yrQueen Anne's County MD 50,951 $1,604/mo $113,347/yr $4,016/mo
Compare counties in the Baltimore Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Baltimore Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Baltimore Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area is approximately $4,038 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 7 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Baltimore Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area is $1,604 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Baltimore Metro Area?
Baltimore city, MD is the most affordable county in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area at approximately $3,751 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Baltimore Metro Area?
Howard County, MD is the most expensive county in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area at approximately $4,444 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Baltimore Metro Area?
The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area covers 7 counties. The five largest by population are Towson, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore, Howard County, Harford County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.