Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Reno?

Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Reno?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 24% higher in Reno, NV. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$964

+8% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,206

+12% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,518

+12% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,885

+21% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$498,600

+127% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$78,448

+32% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$49,660

+16% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

37.3 yr

+1.2 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

47.5%

49.4%

+1.9 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

35.7%

+0.3 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

29.4 min

20.6 min

+8.8 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

528.9

+67% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

2,489.3

+41% 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

53.8°F

+7.6°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

7.4 in

+35.0 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

13.6

+38% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$12.09

+36% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

None

+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Reno?: Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Reno?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).