Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 11% higher in Providence, RI. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,116
+6% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,030
+4% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,323
+2% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,627
+5% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$322,800
+47% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$66,772
+12% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$53,680
+9% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
32.9 yr
+3.2 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
41.2%
+6.3 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
34.7%
+0.7 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
25.0 min
+4.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
282.4
+83% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,665.6
+60% 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
51.6°F
+9.8°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
47.2 in
+4.8 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/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
29.5
+35% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$16.06
+15% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Providence, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Providence, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Providence, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Providence, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / RI)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
5.99%
+0.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Providence?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Providence?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).