C
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
15%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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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 Elkton Maryland National
Cost of living108119100
Goods & Services106106100
Groceries106106100
Health care10797100
Housing115150100
Transportation10898100
Utilities92111100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Elkton, MD

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Elkton? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Elkton stands at 108, making it 8% 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.

The cost of living in Elkton closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Elkton can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Elkton?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 6 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Elkton. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 67% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 33% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Elkton Affordable?

Is Elkton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Elkton, the median home price is 14.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 15.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Elkton come in at $54,871, which is 0.8% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Elkton?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Elkton, the housing index is 14.9% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Elkton, the transportation index is 8% higher than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Elkton, the groceries index is 5.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Elkton 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Elkton is 9% lower than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in Elkton is 8% higher than the national average
  • Elkton housing is 15% 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 Elkton

See all the best places to live around Elkton

Compare Elkton, 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$86,273$7,189$2,013$2,588
      Renters$41,028$3,419$957$1,231
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Elkton, MD, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Elkton have a median income of $86,273. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,013 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $41,028, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $957.

      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 Elkton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.14$24.2624.2%
      Beauty Salon $47.42$45.564.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.2810.4%
      Movie $12.71$12.134.7%
      Bowling $19.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Elkton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.73$5.841.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.573.6%
      Milk $4.81$4.673.0%
      Potatoes $5.40$4.939.5%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.96$10.4114.8%

      Health Care

      Item Elkton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.67$125.689.6%
      Doctor $149.53$135.7810.1%
      Dentist $132.28$113.2916.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.94$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $438.67$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Elkton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $211,800.00$184,700.0014.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,192.51$2,346.696.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,097.00$949.0015.6%

      Transportation

      Item Elkton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.50$3.461.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.86$59.9224.9%

      Utilities

      Item Elkton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $173.73$193.9910.4%
      Phone $182.79$192.254.9%
      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.
      Lincoln University, PA1,8431044.4%
      Wilmington Manor, DE8,3351022.4%
      Port Deposit, MD6241043.5%
      Elsmere, DE5,8141043.5%
      Cecilton, MD9011021.9%
      Elkton, MD15,6531087.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      White Oak, MD15,65513535.5%
      Sienna Plantation, TX15,64912423.8%
      La Palma, CA15,65717373.2%
      Canyon, TX15,648928.1%
      Parlier, CA15,6451088.0%
      Elkton, MD15,6531087.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.