Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 7% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,103
+5% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,024
+5% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,213
+10% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,394
+10% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$224,500
+2% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$55,269
+7% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$54,310
+8% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.0 yr
+0.9 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
47.5%
46.0%
+1.5 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
33.1%
+2.3 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
23.0 min
+6.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,138.2
+30% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
3,182.4
+24% 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
54.9°F
+6.5°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
43.1 in
+0.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
19.4
+11% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$22.51
+19% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
6.60%
+0.1 pp in DE

Baltimore vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Wilmington?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).