Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 58% higher in San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,560
+49% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$2,425
+126% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$2,982
+120% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$3,269
+110% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$1,380,500
+530% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$141,446
+137% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$74,260
+26% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
39.7 yr
+3.6 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
47.5%
38.5%
+9.0 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
60.1%
+24.7 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
29.4 min
31.2 min
+1.8 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
596.5
+63% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,962.2
+6% 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
57.3°F
+4.1°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
23.6 in
+18.8 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$6.05/gal
+41% in San Francisco, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

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

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or San Francisco?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or San Francisco?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); San Francisco 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).