Chesapeake Beach, MD vs Swarthmore, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Swarthmore, PA has a modeled overall cost index 33.9% lower than Chesapeake Beach, MD.

Chesapeake Beach, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $1,980 / month
Swarthmore, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,760 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Chesapeake Beach, MD and Swarthmore, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Chesapeake Beach, MD

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,548/month in Swarthmore, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $119,420 in Swarthmore, PA

Regional cost estimates: Chesapeake Beach, MD uses Washington, DC. Swarthmore, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 33.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,548

Savings

Annual Impact

$30.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Chesapeake Beach, MD

Population:6K

Cost Index:

134.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$448K

Swarthmore, PA

Population:7K

Cost Index:

89.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$458K

Planning the move to Swarthmore?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Chesapeake Beach, MD

The Old Line State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Swarthmore, PA

The Keystone State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Chesapeake Beach, MD vs Swarthmore, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Chesapeake Beach, MD	Swarthmore, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,597/mo	$1,331/mo	↓ $2,266less	63.0%
Transportation	$1,213/mo	$908/mo	↓ $305less	25.1%
All Utilities	$347/mo	$413/mo	↑ $65.86more	19.0%
Other	$1,174/mo	$1,134/mo	↓ $39.75less	3.4%
Healthcare	$432/mo	$414/mo	↓ $18.29less	4.2%
Groceries	$737/mo	$752/mo	↑ $14.61more	2.0%

Housing

↓ 63.0%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$3,597

Swarthmore, PA

$1,331

Difference

$2,266

less

Transportation

↓ 25.1%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$1,213

Swarthmore, PA

$908

Difference

$305

less

All Utilities

↑ 19.0%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$347

Swarthmore, PA

$413

Difference

$65.86

Other

↓ 3.4%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$1,174

Swarthmore, PA

$1,134

Difference

$39.75

less

Healthcare

↓ 4.2%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$432

Swarthmore, PA

$414

Difference

$18.29

less

Groceries

↑ 2.0%

Chesapeake Beach, MD

$737

Swarthmore, PA

$752

Difference

$14.61

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,640

To$1,360

↓ $280

1 Bed

From$1,670

To$1,480

↓ $190

2 Bed

From$1,980

To$1,760

↓ $220

3 Bed

From$2,590

To$2,110

↓ $480

Chesapeake Beach, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,670–$1,670/mo

Swarthmore, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Chesapeake Beach, MD

$4,952

Monthly in Swarthmore, PA

$2,548

Difference

Home Values

Chesapeake Beach

Swarthmore

$448K

Median Value

$458K

YoY Change

↑ +3.4%

↑ +22.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +39.7%

Homes in Swarthmore are 2% more expensive than Chesapeake Beach

Calculate payment - Chesapeake Beach Calculate payment - Swarthmore

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.7K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$221

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.8%

Rate difference

Chesapeake Beach, MD

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Maryland State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.5%

$44.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,811/month

$105.7K

Swarthmore, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Chesapeake Beach, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Swarthmore, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Chesapeake Beach

Swarthmore

45 Good

Air Quality

52 Moderate

63.7%

Good Air Days

47.3%

98 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

Before moving from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Swarthmore, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Swarthmore, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Chesapeake Beach to Swarthmore moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Swarthmore, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Chesapeake Beach, MD vs Swarthmore, PA

How do the cost estimates for Chesapeake Beach, MD and Swarthmore, PA compare?

Swarthmore, PA has a modeled overall cost index 33.9% lower than Chesapeake Beach, MD. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Chesapeake Beach, MD, the model estimates $119,420 in Swarthmore, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Chesapeake Beach, MD and Swarthmore, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,980/month in Chesapeake Beach, MD and $1,760/month in Swarthmore, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Maryland and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com