Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 35% higher in Denver, 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
Denver, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,497
+43% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,583
+48% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,958
+45% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,269
+46% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$586,700
+168% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$91,681
+54% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$62,320
+6% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.2 yr
+0.9 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
49.1%
+1.6 pp in Denver, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
55.6%
+20.2 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
29.4 min
25.4 min
+4.0 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
998.3
+38% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,781.9
+14% in Denver, CO

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
50.2°F
+11.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
15.6 in
+26.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.58/gal
+6% in Denver, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.75
+38% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs RTD (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 Denver, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Denver, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Denver, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Denver, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Denver, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Denver, 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 Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Denver?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Denver?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Denver?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Denver 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).