Montgomery County, MD at a glance
Median household income
$132,450$11,038 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Montgomery County, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Montgomery County, MD? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,953 | $23,436 | $78,120 | 17.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,015 | $24,180 | $80,600 | 18.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,246 | $26,952 | $89,840 | 20.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,835 | $34,020 | $113,400 | 25.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,332 | $39,984 | $133,280 | 30.2% |
Rent in Montgomery County, MD, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Montgomery County, MD
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $132,450 a year ($11,038 a month before tax).
What $132,450 leaves after Maryland taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Maryland tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Maryland
Living in Montgomery County, MD: common questions
What is the median household income in Montgomery County, MD?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Montgomery County, MD is $132,450 per year (approximately $11,038 per month).
What is the average rent in Montgomery County, MD?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,953 for a studio, $2,015 for one bedroom, $2,246 for two, $2,835 for three and $3,332 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Montgomery County, MD expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.9% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Montgomery County, MD?
To keep a $2,246 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $89,840 a year, or $7,487 a month. That is 68% of what the typical household in Montgomery County, MD earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Montgomery County, MD?
On the local median income of $132,450 ($11,038 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $5,519 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $3,311 for everything else and $2,208 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,246 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Montgomery County, MD?
Homes in Maryland paid 21.8¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $197. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.