Smyrna, DE vs Elkton, MD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Elkton, MD has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Smyrna, DE.

Smyrna, DE · modeled 2BR rent: $1,630 / month
Elkton, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $1,820 / 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 Smyrna, DE and Elkton, MD 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 Smyrna, DE

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $430/month in Elkton, MD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,836 in Elkton, MD

Regional cost estimates: Smyrna, DE uses Baltimore, MD. Elkton, MD uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$430

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.2K

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.

Smyrna, DE

Population:13K

Cost Index:

95.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$388K

Elkton, MD

Population:16K

Cost Index:

92.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$361K

Planning the move to Elkton?

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

Smyrna, DE

The First State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Delaware, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Elkton, MD

The Old Line State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Smyrna, DE vs Elkton, MD

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	Smyrna, DE	Elkton, MD	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,535/mo	$1,911/mo	↓ $624less	24.6%
Other	$1,542/mo	$1,629/mo	↑ $86.45more	5.6%
Transportation	$1,246/mo	$1,304/mo	↑ $57.80more	4.6%
Groceries	$1,038/mo	$1,061/mo	↑ $22.77more	2.2%
Healthcare	$561/mo	$583/mo	↑ $22.38more	4.0%
All Utilities	$578/mo	$583/mo	↑ $4.66more	0.8%

Housing

↓ 24.6%

Smyrna, DE

$2,535

Elkton, MD

$1,911

Difference

$624

less

Other

↑ 5.6%

Smyrna, DE

$1,542

Elkton, MD

$1,629

Difference

$86.45

Transportation

↑ 4.6%

Smyrna, DE

$1,246

Elkton, MD

$1,304

Difference

$57.80

Groceries

↑ 2.2%

Smyrna, DE

$1,038

Elkton, MD

$1,061

Difference

$22.77

Healthcare

↑ 4.0%

Smyrna, DE

$561

Elkton, MD

$583

Difference

$22.38

All Utilities

↑ 0.8%

Smyrna, DE

$578

Elkton, MD

$583

Difference

$4.66

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,280

To$1,400

↑ $120

1 Bed

From$1,300

To$1,530

↑ $230

2 Bed

From$1,630

To$1,820

↑ $190

3 Bed

From$2,220

To$2,180

↓ $40.00

Smyrna, DEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/mo

Elkton, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/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 Smyrna, DE

$7,070

Monthly in Elkton, MD

$430

Difference

Home Values

Smyrna

Elkton

$388K

Median Value

$361K

↑ +1.4%

YoY Change

↑ +1.2%

↑ +38.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.9%

Homes in Elkton are 7% less expensive than Smyrna

Calculate payment - Smyrna Calculate payment - Elkton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$135

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.1%

Rate difference

Smyrna, DE

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Delaware State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.9K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,675/month

$104.1K

Elkton, 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

Additional Tax Information

Smyrna, DE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.6%

Elkton, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

💡 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

Smyrna

Elkton

45 Good

Air Quality

52 Moderate

65.6%

Good Air Days

47.3%

95 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

Before moving from Smyrna, DE to Elkton, MD

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Elkton, MD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Smyrna, DE. 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 Smyrna to Elkton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Smyrna, DE vs Elkton, MD

How do the cost estimates for Smyrna, DE and Elkton, MD compare?

Elkton, MD has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Smyrna, DE. 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 Smyrna, DE, the model estimates $144,836 in Elkton, MD. 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 Smyrna, DE and Elkton, MD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,630/month in Smyrna, DE and $1,820/month in Elkton, MD. 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 Delaware and Maryland on TaxTakeHome.com