Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 16% higher in Newark, DE. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,649
+57% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,391
+30% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,513
+12% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,916
+23% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$357,600
+63% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$71,373
+20% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$54,310
+8% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
22.0 yr
+14.1 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
50.3%
+2.8 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
57.5%
+22.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
29.4 min
19.6 min
+9.8 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
326.3
+80% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,024.6
+52% 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
54.9°F
+6.5°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
43.1 in
+0.6 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
19.3
+12% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$29.73
+32% in Newark, DE

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 / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
6.60%
+0.1 pp in DE

Baltimore vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Newark?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Newark?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).