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Baltimore, MD vs Los Angeles, CA

Moving from Baltimore to Los Angeles? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($405,877 → $968,608 median home) and taxes.

Baltimore vs Los Angeles at a glance

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

Baltimore, MD Los Angeles, CA Cost-of-living index Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Los Angeles, CA — Cost-of-living index: 115 115 Median home price Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Los Angeles, CA — Median home price: $969k $969k Price per sqft Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Los Angeles, CA — Price per sqft: $646 $646 Median rent Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Los Angeles, CA — Median rent: $2,909 $2,909 Combined sales tax Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Los Angeles, CA — Combined sales tax: 8.8% 8.8% Property tax rate Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Los Angeles, CA — Property tax rate: 0.69% 0.69% Violent crime /100k Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Los Angeles, CA — Violent crime /100k: 500 500 Electricity ¢/kWh Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Los Angeles, CA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 35.3 35.3 Avg commute (min) Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Los Angeles, CA — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Avg summer high °F Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Los Angeles, CA — Avg summer high °F: 84° 84° Avg winter low °F Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27° Los Angeles, CA — Avg winter low °F: 45° 45°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baltimore, MD, you'd need about $111,208 in Los Angeles, CA (+$11,208).

Livability — Baltimore, MD: 57 · Los Angeles, CA: 42 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,341 sqft in Baltimore vs 774 sqft in Los Angeles ($214 vs $646 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBaltimore, MDLos Angeles, CADifference
Housing $23,028 $34,908 +$11,880
Groceries $5,075 $5,354 +$279
Transportation $3,685 $5,125 +$1,440
Utilities $2,388 $3,804 +$1,416
Insurance $1,400 $1,500 +$100
Taxes $11,584 $21,708 +$10,124
Total $47,160 $72,399 +$25,239

Side by side

MetricBaltimore, MDLos Angeles, CA
Cost-of-living index103.2114.7
Unemployment rate4.86%6.59%
Population growth (5-yr)1.7%-1.1%
Air quality (median AQI)4780
Big Mac price (est.)$5.87$6.53
Median home price$405,877$968,608
Home price ÷ income4.3×10.9×
1-yr home appreciation0.8%0.3%
Price per square foot$214$646
Median rent$1,919$2,909
Total tax burden (% income)11.3%13.5%
Combined sales tax6.00%8.82%
Capital gains tax5.75%13.30%
Property tax rate1.04%0.69%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$7,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$16,000$19,000
Vehicle property taxNone0.65%
Avg commute (min)3030
Home insurance / yr$1,400$1,500
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$2,400
Flood insurance / yr$750$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$950
Electricity ¢/kWh22.135.3
Gas $/gal3.304.85
Violent crime /100k450500
Avg summer high °F8884
Avg winter low °F2745
Permit difficulty (1–5)45
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