Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 34% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$678
+35% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$732
+32% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$903
+33% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,081
+30% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$94,100
+57% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$39,187
+34% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$50,140
+15% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.3 yr
+0.2 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
47.5%
41.2%
+6.3 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
21.3%
+14.1 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.9 min
+6.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,582
+2% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,531.3
+8% in Cleveland, OH

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
36.4 in
+6.1 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
19.5
+10% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$22.83
+21% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baltimore, MD
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
2.75%
+3.8 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Cleveland?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Cleveland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Cleveland?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).