Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 23% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$760
+28% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$772
+28% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$926
+32% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,158
+26% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$165,200
+25% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$45,984
+23% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$45,780
+22% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.6 yr
+2.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
42.9%
+4.6 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
30.3%
+5.1 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
18.0 min
+11.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,189.8
+26% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,231.6
+1% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+5.1°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
45.6 in
+3.1 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Springfield, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
13.7
+37% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$24.13
+27% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baltimore, MD
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.70%
+1.8 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Springfield?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).