Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Baltimore?

Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Baltimore?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $43,000 in Baltimore.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Baltimore?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Baltimore Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,300 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 39% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$1,050

+5% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,073

+2% in Baltimore, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,353

+6% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,555

+20% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$219,300

+42% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$59,623

+39% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$59,070

+2% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

36.1 yr

+1.2 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

63.7%

47.5%

+16.2 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

35.4%

+2.3 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

29.4 min

+10.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

1,616.7

+59% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

2,796.2

4,202.6

+50% in Baltimore, MD

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

61.4°F

+24.0°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

42.4 in

+24.5 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MTA Maryland (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

21.8

+23% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$18.94

+32% in Baltimore, MD

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / MD)

None

+6.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.50%

+6.5 pp in MD

Anchorage vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Baltimore?: Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Baltimore?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Baltimore?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).