Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 8% higher in Louisville, 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
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$786
+25% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$877
+18% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,096
+19% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,299
+16% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$221,500
+1% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$64,731
+9% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$48,370
+18% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.7 yr
+1.6 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
47.5%
60.6%
+13.1 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
33.4%
+2.0 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.7 min
+6.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
761.5
+53% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,535.4
+16% 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
58.2°F
+3.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
44.9 in
+2.5 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.35/gal
+1% in Louisville, KY

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

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
14.9
+58% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$19.12
+11% in Louisville, KY

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

Baltimore vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Louisville?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Louisville?
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 Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Louisville?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Louisville 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).