Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 5% higher in San Antonio, TX. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,052
+0% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,084
+1% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,327
+2% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,545
+1% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$219,700
+0% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$62,917
+6% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,010
+20% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
52.4%
+4.9 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
28.7%
+6.7 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
24.6 min
+4.8 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
605
+63% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,665
+11% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+7.1°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
34.9 in
+7.6 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.30
+35% in Baltimore, MD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
16.4
+54% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$24.61
+43% in San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or San Antonio?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).