Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 44% higher in Washington, DC. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,763
+68% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,885
+76% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,949
+44% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,249
+45% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$724,600
+230% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$106,287
+78% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$71,060
+20% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.9 yr
+1.2 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
41.1%
+6.4 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
63.6%
+28.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
29.4 min
30.3 min
+0.9 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
936
+42% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,627.1
+14% 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
58.2°F
+3.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
39.7 in
+2.7 in in Baltimore, MD

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 WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
25.0
+30% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$18.01
+5% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
10.75%
+4.3 pp in DC

Baltimore vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Washington?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Washington?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).