Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 9% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$795
+24% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$891
+17% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,146
+15% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,520
+2% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$242,200
+10% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$54,546
+9% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,760
+19% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
51.7%
+4.2 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
30.2%
+5.2 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.2 min
+7.2 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
645.8
+60% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,460
+18% 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
70.2°F
+8.8°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
11.6 in
+30.8 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$5.57/gal
+29% in Tucson, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
15.6
+57% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$19.69
+15% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
2.50%
+4.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Tucson?
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 Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Tucson?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).