F
35%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
104%
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 White Oak Maryland National
Cost of living135119100
Goods & Services109106100
Groceries108106100
Health care9797100
Housing204150100
Transportation9598100
Utilities110111100

An Overview of Cost of Living in White Oak, MD

Getting a feel for the cost of living in White Oak 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 White Oak is 135, which is 35% 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 you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, White Oak may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, White Oak falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in White Oak, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 103.6% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is White Oak Affordable?

Is White Oak 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 White Oak, the median home price is 116.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 73.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in White Oak come in at $68,559, which is 23.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in White Oak?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In White Oak, the groceries index is 8.3% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In White Oak, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The White Oak cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 White Oak is 14% higher than the Maryland average
  • The cost of living in White Oak is 35% higher than the national average
  • White Oak housing is 104% 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 White Oak

See all the best places to live around White Oak

Compare White Oak, 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$107,206$8,934$2,501$3,217
      Renters$50,553$4,213$1,179$1,517
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in White Oak, MD, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In White Oak, the median monthly income is $107,206 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,501 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $50,553, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,179 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 White Oak National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.11$24.267.6%
      Beauty Salon $70.08$45.5653.8%
      Toothpaste $3.81$3.702.8%
      Shampoo $1.51$1.2817.9%
      Movie $15.69$12.1329.3%
      Bowling $24.83$18.0038.0%

      Groceries

      Item White Oak National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $5.49$4.9311.3%
      Pizza $12.56$12.093.9%
      Beer $11.10$10.416.6%

      Health Care

      Item White Oak National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $92.00$125.6826.8%
      Doctor $135.03$135.780.5%
      Dentist $117.67$113.293.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.52$10.658.1%
      Lipitor $403.79$468.6013.8%

      Housing

      Item White Oak National avg. Difference
      Home Price $399,600.00$184,700.00116.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,819.29$2,346.69105.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,650.00$949.0073.9%

      Transportation

      Item White Oak National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.25$3.466.0%
      Tire Balancing $59.00$59.921.5%

      Utilities

      Item White Oak National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $222.47$193.9914.7%
      Phone $197.37$192.252.7%
      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.
      Cottage City, MD1,1501088.4%
      Silver Hill, MD5,15511414.0%
      Seat Pleasant, MD4,75311414.3%
      Capitol Heights, MD4,50511717.5%
      Coral Hills, MD9,45711818.2%
      White Oak, MD15,65513535.5%

      Cities with similar population

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