Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Dallas

Texas

$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 Dallas, TX. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 12% higher in Dallas, TX. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,259
+20% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,280
+19% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,500
+11% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,559
+0% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$295,300
+35% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$67,760
+14% in Dallas, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$51,440
+13% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
42.4%
+5.1 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
37.4%
+2.0 pp in Dallas, TX
Avg Commute
29.4 min
26.0 min
+3.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
661.7
+59% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,411.8
+19% 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
67.2°F
+5.8°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
37.6 in
+4.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
16.4
+54% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$24.61
+43% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Dallas?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Dallas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Dallas?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax 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).