Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Portland?

Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Portland?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$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 Portland, OR. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 33% higher in Portland, OR. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$1,294

+23% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,440

+34% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,741

+29% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$2,053

+32% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$557,600

+154% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$88,792

+49% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$60,690

+3% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

38.6 yr

+2.5 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

47.5%

52.8%

+5.3 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

53.5%

+18.1 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

29.4 min

24.6 min

+4.8 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

732.3

+55% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

5,609.4

+33% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+6.9°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

42.9 in

+0.4 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Portland, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.80

+40% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

16.3

+25% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$20.59

+9% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.90%

+3.4 pp in OR

Baltimore vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Portland?: Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Portland?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).