Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 9% higher in Spokane, WA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$884
+16% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$903
+16% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,192
+12% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,442
+7% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$326,200
+49% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$65,745
+10% in Spokane, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$54,660
+7% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.2 yr
+1.1 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
47.5%
58.3%
+10.8 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
32.6%
+2.8 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
21.2 min
+8.2 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
683.6
+58% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,931.8
+17% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+12.5°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
17.8 in
+24.6 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.12/gal
+33% in Spokane, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
14.9
+31% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$20.41
+8% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Spokane, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Spokane, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Spokane, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Spokane, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Spokane?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).