Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 5% higher in Wichita, KS. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$726
+31% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$761
+29% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$976
+28% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,199
+23% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$179,500
+18% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$63,072
+6% in Wichita, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,630
+19% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.7 yr
+0.4 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
58.4%
+10.9 pp in Wichita, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
30.9%
+4.5 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
18.9 min
+10.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,238.7
+23% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
5,284.9
+26% in Wichita, KS

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
57.0°F
+4.4°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
32.6 in
+9.8 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Wichita, KS

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
15.1
+31% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$25.12
+33% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Wichita, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baltimore, MD
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Wichita, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Wichita, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Wichita, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / KS)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
5.58%
+0.9 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Wichita?
Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Wichita?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Wichita?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).