Maryland vs Virginia: which really costs more?
The DC metro covers both, so this comparison settles where a lot of people live.
Most of the gap here is income tax. Sales tax lands in much the same place in both, so what you keep from your pay is the part that really moves. The purchase they disagree about most is home purchase. After that it is car purchase and then wedding. Everything below is sorted the same way, biggest gap first, so the things that barely differ sink to the bottom where they belong.
The DC metro spans both, so this comparison decides where a huge number of federal-area workers actually live.
The dominant term is the income tax differential; the combined sales tax rates are within a rounding band of each other, so take-home rather than consumption drives the spread below. Largest absolute divergence by category: home purchase. Then car purchase, then wedding.
Maryland
- Income tax rate
- 2%–6.5%
- On a $75,000 salary
- 4.27%
- Rank of 51
- 15
- Combined sales tax
- 6%
- Rank of 51
- 38
Virginia
- Income tax rate
- 2%–5.75%
- On a $75,000 salary
- 4.74%
- Rank of 51
- 8
- Combined sales tax
- 5.77%
- Rank of 51
- 42
Beyond income and sales tax
A home costs more to keep in Maryland, where property tax takes 0.97% of its value each year. In Virginia it is 0.73%. Maryland also taxes large estates when someone dies, above $5,000,000.00. Virginia does not. At the pump, Virginia adds 33¢ 32.6¢ of state tax to every gallon. Maryland adds 24¢ 23.5¢.
Effective property tax rate: about 0.97% of market value in Maryland against about 0.73% in Virginia — a holding cost the income and sales tax figures above do not capture. Maryland levies a state estate tax with an exemption of $5,000,000; Virginia levies none. State gasoline excise: 24¢ 23.5¢ per gallon in Maryland, 33¢ 32.6¢ in Virginia.
The income tax figure is what one person earning $75,000.00 pays to the state, as a share of that pay. The sales tax figure is the combined state and local rate. Both come from the same checked data the calculator uses.
Income tax is the effective state rate at $75,000 for a single filer, not a marginal rate. Sales tax is the combined state and local rate at each state's representative county where one is modeled, and a statewide average for the forty-five jurisdictions that carry no named county. Both figures come from the same verified datasets the calculator uses.
Maryland against Virginia
A $75,000 salary
| Measure | Maryland | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $58,394 | $58,041 |
| Worth after local prices | $56,167 | $57,609 |
| Share of pay taxed | 22.14% | 22.61% |
| State sales tax | 6% | 5.3% |
| Groceries exempt here | Yes | No |
| Clothing exempt at $100 | No | No |
| Property tax rate | 0.97% | 0.73% |
| Price level | 104 | 100.7 |
| Housing prices | 119.9 | 105.5 |
| Fuel tax | 23.5¢ | 32.6¢ |
| Tobacco tax | $5.00 | $0.60 |
City income tax excluded. Sales-tax row: state-only. Exemptions: Maryland, Statewide average; Virginia, Statewide average. Clothing: one $100 item; higher prices can change tax.
Where each state is strong
A $75,000 salary
Further out is better on every axis. Axes use fixed national ranges, not the two states alone.
Where each state takes it
A $75,000 salary
- Income
- Sales
- Property
| Tax | Maryland | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Income, all levels | $16,606 | $16,959 |
| Sales, on that spending | $1,051 | $923 |
| Property, on that home | $1,950 | $1,454 |
Assumes 30% of take-home spent on taxable goods and a $200,000 home. Three bases, so never summed.
What gets taxed, in each
A $75,000 salary
Maryland
Statewide average
Virginia
Statewide average
- Sales tax
- Fuel
- Tobacco
| Category | Maryland | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Exempt | 1% |
| Clothing at $100 | 6% | 5.77% |
| Fuel | 23.5¢ | 32.6¢ |
| Tobacco | $5.00 | $0.60 |
Grocery and general rates use the locations named here. Clothing is one item priced at $100; a more expensive garment may be taxed differently. Fuel and tobacco have separate units and scales.
What you would need there
A $75,000 salary
| To match take-home only | $75,546 |
|---|---|
| You could take a cut of | −$2,250 |
| Prices in Virginia | 101 vs 104 |
State taxes and state price levels only. No city tax, and no housing market.
What things actually cost in each
These are the amounts you would need to earn before tax to pay for each thing, at a $75,000.00 salary. Biggest gaps first.
Gross income required at $75,000, using each category's default assumptions, sorted by the absolute difference between the two states.
| Category | Maryland | Virginia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | $1,271,614 | $1,238,240 | $33,373 cheaper in Virginia |
| Car purchase | $141,888 | $142,585 | $697 cheaper in Maryland |
| Wedding | $48,722 | $49,193 | $472 cheaper in Maryland |
| Car payment or lease | $17,726 | $18,000 | $274 cheaper in Maryland |
| Used car from a private seller | $19,390 | $19,648 | $257 cheaper in Maryland |
| Coffee habit | $26,689 | $26,926 | $237 cheaper in Maryland |
| Funeral | $12,195 | $12,384 | $189 cheaper in Maryland |
| Phone plan | $10,504 | $10,666 | $163 cheaper in Maryland |
| Jewelry | $5,655 | $5,731 | $75 cheaper in Maryland |
| Rent | $2,744 | $2,786 | $42 cheaper in Maryland |
| Pet annual cost | $2,501 | $2,535 | $33 cheaper in Maryland |
| Furniture | $2,424 | $2,456 | $32 cheaper in Maryland |
| Childcare | $1,677 | $1,703 | $26 cheaper in Maryland |
| Laptop or phone purchase | $1,939 | $1,965 | $26 cheaper in Maryland |
| Major appliance | $1,777 | $1,801 | $24 cheaper in Maryland |
| Rental car | $442 | $419 | $23 cheaper in Virginia |
| Sofa bed | $1,616 | $1,637 | $21 cheaper in Maryland |
| Mattress | $1,454 | $1,474 | $19 cheaper in Maryland |
| Winter tires | $1,454 | $1,474 | $19 cheaper in Maryland |
| Tires | $1,293 | $1,310 | $17 cheaper in Maryland |
| Hotel stay | $1,066 | $1,083 | $17 cheaper in Maryland |
| Bicycle | $1,131 | $1,146 | $15 cheaper in Maryland |
| Espresso machine | $1,131 | $1,146 | $15 cheaper in Maryland |
| Office chair | $970 | $982 | $13 cheaper in Maryland |
| Theme park day | $821 | $832 | $11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Air conditioner | $808 | $819 | $11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Back-to-school clothes | $808 | $819 | $11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Games console | $808 | $819 | $11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Health insurance premium | $686 | $697 | $11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Lawn mower | $727 | $737 | $9.67 cheaper in Maryland |
| Gift card | $610 | $619 | $9.45 cheaper in Maryland |
| Student loan payment | $610 | $619 | $9.45 cheaper in Maryland |
| Meal kit | $366 | $375 | $9.39 cheaper in Maryland |
| Camping gear | $687 | $696 | $9.11 cheaper in Maryland |
| Power tools | $646 | $655 | $8.58 cheaper in Maryland |
| Suit | $646 | $655 | $8.58 cheaper in Maryland |
| Vet visit | $549 | $557 | $8.50 cheaper in Maryland |
| School uniform | $582 | $589 | $7.74 cheaper in Maryland |
| Domestic flight | $500 | $507 | $7.73 cheaper in Maryland |
| Vacuum cleaner | $566 | $573 | $7.52 cheaper in Maryland |
| Weekly groceries | $267 | $274 | $6.83 cheaper in Maryland |
| Cookware | $485 | $491 | $6.44 cheaper in Maryland |
| Running shoes | $420 | $426 | $5.57 cheaper in Maryland |
| Grocery delivery | $216 | $222 | $5.39 cheaper in Maryland |
| Luggage | $404 | $409 | $5.38 cheaper in Maryland |
| Utilities | $320 | $325 | $4.95 cheaper in Maryland |
| Work uniform | $355 | $360 | $4.72 cheaper in Maryland |
| Birthday cake | $183 | $188 | $4.69 cheaper in Maryland |
| Winter coat | $323 | $327 | $4.27 cheaper in Maryland |
| Car insurance | $252 | $255 | $3.89 cheaper in Maryland |
| School supplies | $291 | $295 | $3.86 cheaper in Maryland |
| Storage unit | $198 | $201 | $3.07 cheaper in Maryland |
| Concert ticket | $221 | $224 | $2.99 cheaper in Maryland |
| Clothing | $194 | $196 | $2.58 cheaper in Maryland |
| Restaurant dinner | $155 | $157 | $2.06 cheaper in Maryland |
| Costume | $145 | $147 | $1.94 cheaper in Maryland |
| Swimwear | $137 | $139 | $1.84 cheaper in Maryland |
| Baby formula | $69 | $70 | $1.76 cheaper in Maryland |
| Cannabis (legal states) | $108 | $110 | $1.68 cheaper in Maryland |
| Internet service | $107 | $108 | $1.65 cheaper in Maryland |
| Pet food | $97 | $98 | $1.27 cheaper in Maryland |
| Baby clothes | $89 | $90 | $1.17 cheaper in Maryland |
| Sunscreen | $89 | $90 | $1.17 cheaper in Maryland |
| Gas fill-up | $69 | $70 | $1.07 cheaper in Maryland |
| First aid supplies | $73 | $74 | $0.98 cheaper in Maryland |
| Gym membership | $73 | $74 | $0.98 cheaper in Maryland |
| Haircut | $64 | $65 | $0.98 cheaper in Maryland |
| Streaming bundle | $73 | $74 | $0.98 cheaper in Maryland |
| Dry cleaning | $61 | $62 | $0.95 cheaper in Maryland |
| Coffee beans | $37 | $38 | $0.93 cheaper in Maryland |
| Toiletries | $65 | $65 | $0.86 cheaper in Maryland |
| Frozen meals | $34 | $34 | $0.84 cheaper in Maryland |
| Pizza delivery | $61 | $61 | $0.84 cheaper in Maryland |
| Food delivery | $58 | $59 | $0.81 cheaper in Maryland |
| Vitamins and supplements | $57 | $57 | $0.74 cheaper in Maryland |
| Prescription refill | $46 | $46 | $0.70 cheaper in Maryland |
| Deli sandwich | $53 | $54 | $0.69 cheaper in Maryland |
| Books | $48 | $49 | $0.64 cheaper in Maryland |
| Cinema ticket | $48 | $49 | $0.64 cheaper in Maryland |
| Bread and bakery | $21 | $22 | $0.55 cheaper in Maryland |
| Rideshare trip | $34 | $34 | $0.50 cheaper in Maryland |
| Soft drinks | $39 | $39 | $0.50 cheaper in Maryland |
| Snack food | $18 | $19 | $0.47 cheaper in Maryland |
| Bottled water | $15 | $16 | $0.40 cheaper in Maryland |
| Bottled juice | $14 | $14 | $0.33 cheaper in Maryland |
| Over-the-counter medicine | $24 | $25 | $0.33 cheaper in Maryland |
| Energy drinks | $23 | $23 | $0.30 cheaper in Maryland |
| Bar drink | $17 | $18 | $0.25 cheaper in Maryland |
| Candy | $19 | $20 | $0.25 cheaper in Maryland |
| Fast food meal | $19 | $20 | $0.25 cheaper in Maryland |
| Cigarettes or vape | $15 | $15 | $0.20 cheaper in Maryland |
Across the 91 things we can price in both states, Maryland comes out cheaper more often. That is not the whole story. Housing, wages and property tax move far more than sales tax does, and none of them are in these numbers. See limitations.
Across the 91 categories computable in both states, Maryland is cheaper more often. ⚠️ This compares tax treatment alone: housing costs, prevailing wages and property tax vary far more between states than sales tax does, and none of them enter these figures. See limitations.
Questions people ask
Both of these tax income — so what actually separates them?
How much, not whether. about 0.47% separates the two effective rates, and behind that sit different bracket shapes and different deductions.
Which of these is actually cheaper?
The taxes point opposite ways. Whichever state wins on income loses on sales — a about 0.23% gap — so the answer changes with how much of your income you spend.
Is the difference between these two big enough to matter?
It is a narrow gap. Rent, pay and moving costs would each dominate it, which is worth knowing before treating tax as the deciding factor.
On what dimensions do two income-taxing states diverge?
Both states levy personal income tax, so divergence is in rate and structure rather than in existence. Effective rates differ by about 0.47% at this project's representative income; bracket thresholds, deduction levels and joint-filing treatment vary independently and can reverse the ordering at other income levels.
Why do the two levies rank these states differently?
The income and consumption levies rank these states in opposite directions, with a about 0.23% sales differential offsetting the income differential. Relative burden is therefore a function of the household's consumption share of income; no ordering holds across the full range, and single-figure comparisons implicitly assume one.
Is this differential material relative to other relocation costs?
Differentials between these states are narrow on both levies. Housing cost, nominal wage differences and transaction costs of relocation are typically an order of magnitude larger, so tax differentials of this size are unlikely to be decisive in isolation.