Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 22% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$750
+29% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$857
+20% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,114
+18% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,240
+20% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$120,600
+45% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$46,628
+22% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$51,210
+13% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.5 yr
+2.6 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
37.2%
+10.3 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
29.9%
+5.5 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
18.9 min
+10.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
690
+57% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,533.4
+16% 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
48.2°F
+13.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
34.3 in
+8.2 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.04/gal
+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
29.9
+37% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$22.74
+20% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
10.90%
+4.4 pp in NY

Baltimore vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Rochester?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).