Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% 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 Las Vegas?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Las Vegas?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 6% 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 $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 16% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$992

+6% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,181

+10% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,401

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,740

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$395,300

+80% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$70,723

+19% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$46,670

+21% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

38.5 yr

+2.4 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

47.5%

55.7%

+8.2 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

27.3%

+8.1 pp in Baltimore, MD

Avg Commute

29.4 min

25.8 min

+3.6 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

433.1

+73% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

2,641.7

+37% 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

68.4°F

+7.0°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

5.4 in

+37.1 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.57/gal

+29% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

35.9

14.2

+60% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.19

$10.04

+42% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Las Vegas, NV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

None

+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Las Vegas?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% 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 Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Las Vegas?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).