Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 33% higher in West Valley City, UT. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,085
+3% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,191
+11% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,333
+1% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,723
+11% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$377,300
+72% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$88,604
+49% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$55,240
+6% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
30.3 yr
+5.8 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
71.1%
+23.6 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
15.7%
+19.7 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
471.8
+71% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,855.5
+56% 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
52.8°F
+8.6°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
16.1 in
+26.3 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
13.4
+39% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$11.84
+48% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.50%
+2.0 pp in MD

Baltimore vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or West Valley City?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or West Valley City?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).