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Lancaster, PA vs Baltimore, MD

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

Lancaster vs Baltimore at a glance

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

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

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Lancaster, PA, you'd need about $106,646 in Baltimore, MD (+$6,646).

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

What your home budget buys

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

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

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

Side by side

MetricLancaster, PABaltimore, MD
Cost-of-living index96.8103.2
Unemployment rate3.38%4.86%
Population growth (5-yr)3.1%1.7%
Air quality (median AQI)5047
Big Mac price (est.)$5.51$5.87
Median home price$388,207$405,877
Home price ÷ income4.8×4.3×
1-yr home appreciation4.6%0.8%
Price per square foot$222$214
Median rent$1,526$1,919
Total tax burden (% income)10.6%11.3%
Combined sales tax6.34%6.00%
Capital gains tax3.07%5.75%
Property tax rate1.48%1.04%
Healthcare (annual)$7,000$7,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$12,000$16,000
Vehicle property taxNoneNone
Avg commute (min)2430
Home insurance / yr$1,200$1,400
Auto insurance / yr$1,600$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$650$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh21.522.1
Gas $/gal3.553.30
Violent crime /100k390450
Avg summer high °F8588
Avg winter low °F2227
Permit difficulty (1–5)34
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