Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 16% higher in Tampa, FL. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,242
+18% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,324
+23% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,673
+24% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,729
+11% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$375,300
+71% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$71,302
+20% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$48,940
+17% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
50.2%
+2.7 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
44.6%
+9.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
29.4 min
24.7 min
+4.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
443.4
+73% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,473.2
+65% 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
73.4°F
+12.0°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
46.3 in
+3.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.25/gal
+1% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
14.9
+59% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$23.62
+37% in Tampa, FL

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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
None
+6.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Tampa?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Tampa?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).