Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Cambridge?

Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Cambridge?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 53% higher in Cambridge, MA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$2,236

+113% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$2,496

+133% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$2,980

+120% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$3,325

+114% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$1,040,500

+374% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$126,469

+112% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$66,620

+13% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

30.5 yr

+5.6 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

47.5%

33.7%

+13.8 pp in Baltimore, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

80.2%

+44.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

29.4 min

26.1 min

+3.3 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

436.7

+73% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

2,657.6

+37% 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

61.4°F

51.5°F

+9.9°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

43.8 in

+1.3 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

29.6

+36% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.57

$30.66

+36% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.00%

+2.5 pp in MA

Baltimore vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Cambridge?: Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Cambridge?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).