SalaryCompareTool

Modesto, CA vs Baltimore, MD

Moving from Modesto to Baltimore? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($468,302 → $405,877 median home) and taxes.

Modesto vs Baltimore at a glance

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

Modesto, CA Baltimore, MD Cost-of-living index Modesto, CA — Cost-of-living index: 105 105 Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Median home price Modesto, CA — Median home price: $468k $468k Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Price per sqft Modesto, CA — Price per sqft: $312 $312 Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Median rent Modesto, CA — Median rent: $2,052 $2,052 Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Combined sales tax Modesto, CA — Combined sales tax: 8.8% 8.8% Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Property tax rate Modesto, CA — Property tax rate: 0.73% 0.73% Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Violent crime /100k Modesto, CA — Violent crime /100k: 500 500 Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Electricity ¢/kWh Modesto, CA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 35.3 35.3 Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Avg commute (min) Modesto, CA — Avg commute (min): 31 31 Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Avg summer high °F Modesto, CA — Avg summer high °F: 84° 84° Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Avg winter low °F Modesto, CA — Avg winter low °F: 45° 45° Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Modesto, CA, you'd need about $98,152 in Baltimore, MD (−$1,848).

Livability — Modesto, CA: 52 · Baltimore, MD: 57 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,602 sqft in Modesto vs 2,341 sqft in Baltimore ($312 vs $214 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryModesto, CABaltimore, MDDifference
Housing $24,624 $23,028 −$1,596
Groceries $5,247 $5,075 −$172
Transportation $5,125 $3,685 −$1,440
Utilities $3,804 $2,388 −$1,416
Insurance $1,500 $1,400 −$100
Taxes $19,239 $11,584 −$7,655
Total $59,539 $47,160 −$12,379

Side by side

MetricModesto, CABaltimore, MD
Cost-of-living index105.1103.2
Unemployment rate8.16%4.86%
Population growth (5-yr)3.1%1.7%
Air quality (median AQI)5347
Big Mac price (est.)$5.98$5.87
Median home price$468,302$405,877
Home price ÷ income6.3×4.3×
1-yr home appreciation-0.8%0.8%
Price per square foot$312$214
Median rent$2,052$1,919
Total tax burden (% income)13.5%11.3%
Combined sales tax8.82%6.00%
Capital gains tax13.30%5.75%
Property tax rate0.73%1.04%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$7,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$19,000$16,000
Vehicle property tax0.65%None
Avg commute (min)3130
Home insurance / yr$1,500$1,400
Auto insurance / yr$2,400$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$750$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$950$100
Electricity ¢/kWh35.322.1
Gas $/gal4.853.30
Violent crime /100k500450
Avg summer high °F8488
Avg winter low °F4527
Permit difficulty (1–5)54
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