Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 11% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,127
+7% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,146
+7% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,385
+2% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,545
+1% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$266,100
+21% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$66,981
+12% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$48,830
+17% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
47.5%
57.4%
+9.9 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
31.8%
+3.6 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
24.1 min
+5.3 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
558.4
+65% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,600.1
+38% 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
70.2°F
+8.8°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
49.2 in
+6.8 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
15.2
+30% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$23.62
+25% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Jacksonville?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Jacksonville?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).