Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% 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 Philadelphia?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Philadelphia?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 1% 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 $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 2% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$1,126

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,189

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,394

+3% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,406

+10% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$232,400

+6% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$60,698

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$54,310

+8% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

47.5%

52.3%

+4.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

34.6%

+0.8 pp in Baltimore, MD

Avg Commute

29.4 min

32.0 min

+2.6 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

916.8

+43% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

4,614.3

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+4.3°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

48.5 in

+6.1 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.50

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

35.9

20.9

+42% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.19

$16.67

+3% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.92

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Philadelphia, PA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.90

+5% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.02

+6% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.68

+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / PA)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

3.07%

+3.4 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% 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 Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Philadelphia?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).