Swarthmore, PA vs Mount Rainier, MD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mount Rainier, MD has a modeled overall cost index 54.1% higher than Swarthmore, PA.

Swarthmore, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,760 / month
Mount Rainier, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $1,640 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Swarthmore, PA and Mount Rainier, 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 Swarthmore, PA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $4,055/month in Mount Rainier, MD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $198,665 in Mount Rainier, MD

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

Overall Cost

↑ 54.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$4,055

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$48.7K

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.

Swarthmore, PA

Population:7K

Cost Index:

89.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$458K

Mount Rainier, MD

Population:8K

Cost Index:

137.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$439K

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Swarthmore, PA

The Keystone State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Mount Rainier, MD

The Old Line State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Swarthmore, PA vs Mount Rainier, 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	Swarthmore, PA	Mount Rainier, MD	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,015/mo	$5,552/mo	↑ $3,537more	175.5%
Transportation	$1,375/mo	$1,872/mo	↑ $497more	36.1%
All Utilities	$626/mo	$531/mo	↓ $94.73less	15.1%
Other	$1,718/mo	$1,812/mo	↑ $94.29more	5.5%
Healthcare	$626/mo	$660/mo	↑ $33.94more	5.4%
Groceries	$1,139/mo	$1,128/mo	↓ $11.47less	1.0%

Housing

↑ 175.5%

Swarthmore, PA

$2,015

Mount Rainier, MD

$5,552

Difference

$3,537

Transportation

↑ 36.1%

Swarthmore, PA

$1,375

Mount Rainier, MD

$1,872

Difference

$497

All Utilities

↓ 15.1%

Swarthmore, PA

$626

Mount Rainier, MD

$531

Difference

$94.73

less

Other

↑ 5.5%

Swarthmore, PA

$1,718

Mount Rainier, MD

$1,812

Difference

$94.29

Healthcare

↑ 5.4%

Swarthmore, PA

$626

Mount Rainier, MD

$660

Difference

$33.94

Groceries

↓ 1.0%

Swarthmore, PA

$1,139

Mount Rainier, MD

$1,128

Difference

$11.47

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,360

To$1,430

↑ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,470

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,760

To$1,640

↓ $120

3 Bed

From$2,110

To$2,070

↓ $40.00

Swarthmore, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

Mount Rainier, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,470–$1,470/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 Swarthmore, PA

$11,555

Monthly in Mount Rainier, MD

$4,055

Difference

Home Values

Swarthmore

Mount Rainier

$458K

Median Value

$439K

↑ +3.4%

YoY Change

↓ -3.8%

↑ +39.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +5.4%

Homes in Mount Rainier are 4% less expensive than Swarthmore

Calculate payment - Swarthmore Calculate payment - Mount Rainier

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $2.7K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$221

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.8%

Rate difference

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

Mount Rainier, 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

Swarthmore, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

Mount Rainier, 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

Swarthmore

Mount Rainier

52 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

47.3%

Good Air Days

63.7%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

27 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

27 days

Before moving from Swarthmore, PA to Mount Rainier, MD

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mount Rainier, MD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Swarthmore, PA. 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 Swarthmore to Mount Rainier moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Swarthmore, PA vs Mount Rainier, MD

How do the cost estimates for Swarthmore, PA and Mount Rainier, MD compare?

Mount Rainier, MD has a modeled overall cost index 54.1% higher than Swarthmore, PA. 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 Swarthmore, PA, the model estimates $198,665 in Mount Rainier, 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 Swarthmore, PA and Mount Rainier, MD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,760/month in Swarthmore, PA and $1,640/month in Mount Rainier, 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 Pennsylvania and Maryland on TaxTakeHome.com

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