Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 28% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$998
+5% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,305
+22% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,504
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,881
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$420,700
+92% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$83,198
+40% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$52,710
+11% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
61.3%
+13.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
41.9%
+6.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.8 min
+6.6 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
721.1
+55% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,487.9
+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
49.0°F
+12.4°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
16.5 in
+25.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.54/gal
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.75
+13% in Baltimore, MD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
16.7
+53% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$11.64
+32% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.40%
+2.1 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Colorado Springs?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Colorado Springs?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).