Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 28% higher in Raleigh, NC. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,301
+24% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,323
+23% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,462
+8% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,715
+10% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$377,800
+72% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$82,424
+38% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$51,990
+12% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.7 yr
+1.4 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
51.2%
+3.7 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
52.9%
+17.5 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
29.4 min
23.4 min
+6.0 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
491.5
+70% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,838
+32% 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
60.6°F
+0.8°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
46.0 in
+3.6 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Baltimore, MD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
16.0
+55% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$17.50
+2% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
3.99%
+2.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Raleigh?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Raleigh?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).