Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or St. Paul?

They're close. Baltimore, MD runs about $1,300 a month and St. Paul, MN about $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in St. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or St. Paul?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 18% higher in St. Paul, MN. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$995

+5% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,126

+5% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,384

+2% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,662

+7% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$280,300

+28% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$73,055

+23% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$59,320

+0% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

33.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

47.5%

53.2%

+5.7 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

43.5%

+8.1 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

29.4 min

22.3 min

+7.1 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

619

+62% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

2,897.2

+31% 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

47.1°F

+14.3°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

28.5 in

+13.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

16.9

+22% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$14.95

+21% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Paul, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Baltimore, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Paul, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.85%

+3.3 pp in MN

Baltimore vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or St. Paul?: They're close. Baltimore, MD runs about $1,300 a month and St. Paul, MN about $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or St. Paul?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).