Cost of Living in Salisbury, MD
Salisbury, MD — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Salisbury, MD to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Salisbury, MD?
With a price level of 95.6 (U.S. average = 100), Salisbury, MD is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 13% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 3% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Salisbury, MD vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.6 | −4.4% |
| Housing | 87.2 | −12.8% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 102.8 | +2.8% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Salisbury, MD
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,025 | $41,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,031 | $41,240/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,337 | $53,480/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,773 | $70,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,795 | $71,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Salisbury, MD
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Salisbury, MD | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,200 | $31,423 |
| $60,000 | $57,400 | $45,938 |
| $80,000 | $76,500 | $59,378 |
| $100,000 | $95,600 | $71,907 |
| $150,000 | $143,400 | $102,710 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Maryland 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Salisbury, MD's median wage of $48,710 takes home about $3,281 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,031, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,250 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Salisbury, MD
- Federal income tax$3,665
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,020
- Medicare (1.45%)$706
- Maryland income tax$1,950
- Take-home pay$39,368
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Pay and living costs in Maryland cities
Half of Maryland’s 2,763,030 workers earn less than $59,510 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $39,440–$98,010 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Washington, DC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hagerstown, MD is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $71,060 | 108.9 | $1,990 | 43% | $2,661 | $51,255 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 42% | $2,113 | $42,516 |
| Baltimore, MD | $59,070 | 104.5 | $1,511 | 38% | $2,422 | $45,174 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $47,440 | 94.2 | $952 | 30% | $2,249 | $40,786 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $63,990 | 100.8 | $1,753 | 41% | $2,490 | $50,536 |
| Salisbury, MD | $48,710 | 95.6 | $1,031 | 31% | $2,250 | $41,173 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Salisbury, MD vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury, MD | 95.6 | $1,031 | $48,710 | 53,770 |
| Lebanon, PA | 93.2 | $1,112 | $46,500 | 53,710 |
| Valdosta, GA | 88.3 | $921 | $39,110 | 53,890 |
| Manhattan, KS | 90.2 | $868 | $45,900 | 53,500 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 86.4 | $832 | $47,350 | 54,390 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 90.5 | $976 | $48,690 | 54,600 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 88.0 | $918 | $43,960 | 54,630 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Salisbury, MD expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Salisbury, MD metro area are 95.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 87.2%. It is the #154 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Salisbury, MD?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,370 in Salisbury, MD (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,710.
Can you afford Salisbury, MD on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,710 median wage takes home about $3,281 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,031 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Salisbury, MD?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Salisbury, MD are $1,025 for a studio, $1,031 for one bedroom, $1,337 for two bedrooms and $1,773 for three bedrooms, including utilities.