Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 11% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$795
+24% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$882
+18% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,085
+20% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,356
+13% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$215,100
+2% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$66,702
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,230
+20% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
59.1%
+11.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
34.0%
+1.4 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.2 min
+7.2 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
685.6
+58% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,928.9
+30% 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
61.5°F
+0.1°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
36.5 in
+5.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.35/gal
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
13.6
+62% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$15.95
+7% in Baltimore, MD

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 / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.50%
+2.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Oklahoma City?
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 Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Oklahoma City?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).