SalaryCompareTool

Baltimore, MD vs Lancaster, PA

Moving from Baltimore to Lancaster? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($405,877 → $388,207 median home) and taxes.

Baltimore vs Lancaster at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Baltimore, MD Lancaster, PA Cost-of-living index Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Lancaster, PA — Cost-of-living index: 97 97 Median home price Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Lancaster, PA — Median home price: $388k $388k Price per sqft Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Lancaster, PA — Price per sqft: $222 $222 Median rent Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Lancaster, PA — Median rent: $1,526 $1,526 Combined sales tax Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Lancaster, PA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Property tax rate Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Lancaster, PA — Property tax rate: 1.48% 1.48% Violent crime /100k Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Lancaster, PA — Violent crime /100k: 390 390 Electricity ¢/kWh Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Lancaster, PA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.5 21.5 Avg commute (min) Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Lancaster, PA — Avg commute (min): 24 24 Avg summer high °F Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Lancaster, PA — Avg summer high °F: 85° 85° Avg winter low °F Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27° Lancaster, PA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baltimore, MD, you'd need about $93,768 in Lancaster, PA (−$6,232).

Livability — Baltimore, MD: 57 · Lancaster, PA: 64 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,341 sqft in Baltimore vs 2,254 sqft in Lancaster ($214 vs $222 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBaltimore, MDLancaster, PADifference
Housing $23,028 $18,312 −$4,716
Groceries $5,075 $4,915 −$160
Transportation $3,685 $3,440 −$245
Utilities $2,388 $2,316 −$72
Insurance $1,400 $1,200 −$200
Taxes $11,584 $9,202 −$2,382
Total $47,160 $39,385 −$7,775

Side by side

MetricBaltimore, MDLancaster, PA
Cost-of-living index103.296.8
Unemployment rate4.86%3.38%
Population growth (5-yr)1.7%3.1%
Air quality (median AQI)4750
Big Mac price (est.)$5.87$5.51
Median home price$405,877$388,207
Home price ÷ income4.3×4.8×
1-yr home appreciation0.8%4.6%
Price per square foot$214$222
Median rent$1,919$1,526
Total tax burden (% income)11.3%10.6%
Combined sales tax6.00%6.34%
Capital gains tax5.75%3.07%
Property tax rate1.04%1.48%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$7,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$16,000$12,000
Vehicle property taxNoneNone
Avg commute (min)3024
Home insurance / yr$1,400$1,200
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$1,600
Flood insurance / yr$750$650
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh22.121.5
Gas $/gal3.303.55
Violent crime /100k450390
Avg summer high °F8885
Avg winter low °F2722
Permit difficulty (1–5)43
Moving to Lancaster?
Compare moving company quotes →
Financing a home in Lancaster?
See today's mortgage rates →

Ad · affiliate links

Baltimore details → Lancaster details → Reverse: Lancaster vs Baltimore →