Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,440 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 21% higher in Chicago, IL. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,186
+13% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,258
+17% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,406
+4% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,554
+0% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$315,200
+44% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$75,134
+26% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$54,720
+7% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.7 yr
+0.4 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
45.5%
+2.0 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
43.3%
+7.9 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
29.4 min
33.5 min
+4.1 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
539.8
+67% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,489.9
+17% 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
52.7°F
+8.7°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
38.0 in
+4.5 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.82/gal
+12% in Chicago, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Chicago, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
18.9
+47% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$12.10
+30% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Chicago, IL
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Chicago, IL

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.95%
+1.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Chicago?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Chicago?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).