Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 5% higher in Provo, UT. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Provo, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,009
+4% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$978
+9% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,128
+17% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,381
+11% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$437,100
+99% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$62,800
+5% in Provo, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$48,010
+19% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
23.7 yr
+12.4 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
39.9%
+7.6 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
45.0%
+9.6 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
29.4 min
18.5 min
+10.9 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
205.7
+87% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,280.6
+70% 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
53.4°F
+8.0°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
19.8 in
+22.7 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Provo, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
13.4
+39% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$11.84
+48% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.50%
+2.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Provo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Provo?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).