Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 9% higher in Columbus, OH. 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
Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,014
+3% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,059
+1% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,276
+6% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,369
+12% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$234,500
+7% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$65,327
+10% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$51,340
+13% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.0 yr
+3.1 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
44.3%
+3.2 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
38.2%
+2.8 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
29.4 min
21.8 min
+7.6 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
484.8
+70% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,092.7
+26% 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
40.1 in
+2.3 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.56/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
18.8
+48% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$13.75
+20% 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 Columbus, OH
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Columbus?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Columbus?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Columbus 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).