Living Cost Compare
Annapolis

Maryland

$1,820/mo est.

vs
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,820 in Annapolis, MD versus $1,300 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $104,257 in Annapolis, MD and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 43% higher in Annapolis, MD. Both cities are in Maryland, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Annapolis, MD
Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio
$1,239
$1,050
+15% in Annapolis, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,598
$1,073
+33% in Annapolis, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,864
$1,353
+27% in Annapolis, MD
3 Bedroom
$2,232
$1,555
+30% in Annapolis, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$510,200
$219,300
+57% in Annapolis, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$104,257
$59,623
+43% in Annapolis, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$59,070
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.9 yr
36.1 yr
+4.8 yr in Annapolis, MD
Homeownership
59.8%
47.5%
+12.3 pp in Annapolis, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.7%
35.4%
+18.3 pp in Annapolis, MD
Avg Commute
28.7 min
29.4 min
+0.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
806
1,616.7
+101% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
2,111.5
4,202.6
+99% 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
57.1°F
61.4°F
+4.3°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
—
42.4 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) 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)
21.8
21.8
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$18.94
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MD)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
6.50%
about equal

Annapolis vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Annapolis or Baltimore?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Annapolis than in Baltimore?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Annapolis versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Annapolis or Baltimore?
Neither — both are in Maryland, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).