Maryland vs Virginia: cost of living
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $159 more a month in Virginia than in Maryland after 2026 taxes, rent, electricity, gas, car insurance, health insurance and groceries. Median rent is 4% lower in Virginia.
| A month, single filer on $75,000 | Maryland | Virginia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $4,866 | $4,841 | −$25 |
| Rent (median, incl. utilities the renter pays) | $1,721 | $1,646 | −$75 |
| Electricity (average home bill) | $199 | $182 | −$17 |
| Gas for 1,000 miles a month | $147 | $149 | +$3 |
| Car insurance, full coverage | $302 | $207 | −$95 |
| Health insurance, your share of a job plan (U.S. average) | $139 | $139 | +$0 |
| Groceries (U.S. average household) | $519 | $519 | +$0 |
| Left over after these | $1,840 | $1,999 | +$159 |
Sources: take-home pay from 2026 IRS brackets, SSA wage base and Tax Foundation state rates; rent from Census ACS; electricity from EIA; gas from AAA (1,000 miles at 27.2 mpg); car insurance from Insurify; groceries are the U.S. average household from BLS (2024) in both states. Each figure has its own date, shown on the linked page. Our calculation, a rough guide, not an exact budget.
Compare two states
Same salary in both states, single filer, 2026 taxes. Each cost is that state's average from its own source and date; groceries use the U.S. average in both. Electricity can be partly counted in gross rent. "I own a home" swaps rent for home insurance and property tax but leaves out the mortgage payment. Our calculation, a rough guide.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to live in Maryland or Virginia?
Virginia, by the basics we track. On $75,000 a year, Virginia leaves about $159 more a month ($1,910 a year) after 2026 taxes, median rent, electricity, gas, car insurance, health insurance and groceries (our calculation).
What salary in Virginia equals $75,000 in Maryland?
About $72,000 a year. At that salary a single filer in Virginia keeps the same $1,840 a month after taxes and the same basics as $75,000 in Maryland (our calculation).
How do taxes compare between Maryland and Virginia?
Maryland has income tax from 2% to 6.5% and Virginia has income tax from 2% to 5.75% (Tax Foundation, 2026). On $75,000, take-home pay is about $4,866 a month in Maryland and $4,841 in Virginia.
How much is rent in Maryland vs Virginia?
The median rent is $1,721 a month in Maryland and $1,646 in Virginia (Census ACS).
Planning the move itself? See the full monthly budget for Maryland or Virginia, and the take-home pay calculators for Maryland and Virginia.