F
28%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
68%
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 Chillum Maryland National
Cost of living128119100
Goods & Services117106100
Groceries105106100
Health care11097100
Housing168150100
Transportation10698100
Utilities111111100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Chillum, MD

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Chillum is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Chillum is 128, which is 28% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Chillum is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Chillum falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Chillum cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 67.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Chillum goods and services are 16.6% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

Is Chillum Affordable?

Is Chillum affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Chillum, for instance, where the median home price falls 71.7% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 57.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Chillum flaunting a median household income of $62,412, 12.8% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Chillum?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Chillum comes in at 10.6% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Chillum, healthcare costs are 10% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Chillum, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Chillum 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Chillum is 8% higher than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in Chillum is 28% higher than the national average
  • Chillum housing is 68% 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 Chillum

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Compare Chillum, 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$82,630$6,886$1,928$2,479
      Renters$52,990$4,416$1,236$1,590
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Chillum is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Chillum has a median income of about $82,630 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,928 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $52,990. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,236 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Chillum National avg. Difference
      Haircut $41.31$24.2670.3%
      Beauty Salon $73.33$45.5660.9%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.0%
      Shampoo $1.63$1.2827.4%
      Movie $15.72$12.1329.6%
      Bowling $24.56$18.0036.4%

      Groceries

      Item Chillum National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.72$5.842.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.31$1.5716.5%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $5.15$4.934.5%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.41$10.419.6%

      Health Care

      Item Chillum National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.83$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $156.21$135.7815.0%
      Dentist $135.09$113.2919.2%
      Ibuprofen $12.28$10.6515.3%
      Lipitor $426.27$468.609.0%

      Housing

      Item Chillum National avg. Difference
      Home Price $317,100.00$184,700.0071.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,844.08$2,346.69149.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,498.00$949.0057.9%

      Transportation

      Item Chillum National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.37$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $75.27$59.9225.6%

      Utilities

      Item Chillum National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.70$193.9917.4%
      Phone $190.71$192.250.8%
      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.
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Wakefield town, VA810954.6%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621022.0%
      Cottage City, MD1,1501088.4%
      Silver Hill, MD5,15511414.0%
      Chillum, MD34,23012828.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Kennesaw, GA34,2321044.1%
      Plainfield, IN34,224990.8%
      Stratford, ON34,224n/a 
      Adelanto, CA34,23811616.5%
      Wenatchee, WA34,24911817.6%
      Chillum, MD34,23012828.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.