Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 43% higher in San Diego, CA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,737
+65% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,883
+75% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$2,348
+74% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,818
+81% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$848,500
+287% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$104,321
+75% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$58,690
+1% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.0 yr
+0.1 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
47.6%
+0.1 pp in San Diego, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
49.9%
+14.5 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
29.4 min
23.9 min
+5.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
414.1
+74% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,693.1
+60% 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
63.6°F
+2.2°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
10.3 in
+32.1 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$5.91/gal
+37% in San Diego, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in San Diego, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
33.4
+7% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$20.72
+21% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in San Diego, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in San Diego, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in San Diego, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
13.30%
+6.8 pp in CA

Baltimore vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or San Diego?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or San Diego?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).