Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 34% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,496
+42% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,357
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,559
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,857
+19% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$366,300
+67% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$90,685
+52% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$49,430
+16% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.4 yr
+1.3 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
47.5%
64.9%
+17.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
40.4%
+5.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
29.4 min
23.2 min
+6.2 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
96.7
+94% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,664.3
+60% 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
59.9°F
+1.5°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
44.3 in
+1.9 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
17.1
+52% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$18.75
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Virginia Beach?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Virginia Beach?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).