Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 12% higher in Lexington, KY. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$769
+27% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$887
+17% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,119
+17% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,408
+9% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$272,100
+24% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$67,631
+13% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$48,620
+18% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.2 yr
+0.9 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
53.6%
+6.1 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
47.3%
+11.9 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
29.4 min
20.8 min
+8.6 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
269.1
+83% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,304.4
+45% 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
55.6°F
+5.8°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
45.2 in
+2.7 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Lexington, KY

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
15.0
+31% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$29.48
+56% in Lexington, KY

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 / KY)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
3.50%
+3.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Lexington?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Lexington?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).