Home › MD › Baltimore, MD Cost of living in Baltimore, MD Livability score 56 · cost-of-living index 103.2 (US = 100)
How Baltimore compares Where Baltimore falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 103 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 103 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $406k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $406k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $214 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $214 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.04% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.04% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 450 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 450 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 22.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 22.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 27° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 27° Map of Baltimore Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 103.2 metro-area #163 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 101.5 metro-area #162 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.87 metro-area #162 of 200 Median household income $94,167 metro-area #17 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $54,270 metro-area #6 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.9 years metro-area #106 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 43.3% metro-area #21 of 200 Foreign-born residents 11.2% metro-area #67 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 66.9% metro-area #95 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.86% metro-area #79 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +1.7% metro-area #140 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $405,877 metro-area #137 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.3× metro-area #71 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.8% metro-area #116 of 200 Price per square foot $214 metro-area #129 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,900 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,919 metro-area #149 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 7,932 Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 11.3% state #144 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.75% Capital gains tax 5.75% state #130 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.04% metro-area #120 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,734 metro-area #146 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.9 years metro-area #89 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,200 state #139 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.5% metro-area #29 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 93 metro-area #27 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $16,000 state #150 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $135 state #121 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 19 Avg commute to work 30 min metro-area #186 of 200 Commute by driving alone 69.0% metro-area #33 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 45.6% metro-area #187 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 22.1¢/kWh state #156 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $199 state #156 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal state #94 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $88 state #181 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $106 state #109 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $82 state #129 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,400 state #47 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 84.1 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #58 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 47 metro-area #107 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,200 metro-area #104 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,600 metro-area #110 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 61 metro-area #139 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 8 metro-area #177 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 88°F metro-area #98 of 200 Avg winter low 27°F metro-area #114 of 200 Annual precipitation 45.0" metro-area #125 of 200 Annual snowfall 19.3" metro-area #122 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7a Frost window 04-10 → 11-01
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 450 state #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,000 state #83 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 83 metro-area #94 of 200 Parks 75 Hiking areas 5 Golf courses 16 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 1
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 4 state #147 of 200 Permit detail Difficult; zoning + review
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Baltimore Major public and private employers in the Baltimore, MD area.
Employer Sector Jobs Johns Hopkins Medicine Healthcare Careers → Johns Hopkins University Education Search → University of Maryland Medical Center Healthcare Search → Under Armour Retail Careers → McCormick & Company Manufacturing Careers → Morgan State University Education Search →
Salaries by occupation in Baltimore Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Financial Managers $139,740 Software Developers $138,370 Human Resources Managers $138,300 Marketing Managers $136,230 Lawyers $134,510 Pharmacists $132,450 Physician Assistants $129,160 Data Scientists $126,430 Construction Managers $114,530 Mechanical Engineers $101,710 Physical Therapists $100,200 General & Operations Managers $99,990 Dental Hygienists $99,600 Civil Engineers $93,360 Registered Nurses $89,310 Web Developers $84,450 Accountants & Auditors $81,390 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $75,330 Elementary School Teachers $62,340 Electricians $61,670 Graphic Designers $60,480 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $59,110 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $57,870 Carpenters $56,380 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,300 Real Estate Sales Agents $46,850 Medical Assistants $43,720
Cities in the Baltimore area Baltimore (584,548) → Columbia (106,600) → Ellicott City (73,589) → Glen Burnie (71,427) → Dundalk (66,321) → Towson (57,617) → Bel Air South (57,109) → Severn (56,438) → Odenton (45,026) → Catonsville (42,767) → Woodlawn (42,239) → Essex (40,842) → Annapolis (40,719) → Severna Park (40,452) → Randallstown (36,223) → Owings Mills (34,999) → Pikesville (34,101) → Pasadena (32,161) → Milford Mill (31,513) → Bel Air North (31,308) → Middle River (31,155) → Parkville (30,520) → Eldersburg (30,357) → Crofton (29,358) → Carney (29,352) → Perry Hall (29,255) → Reisterstown (27,616) → Ilchester (27,300) → Lochearn (27,078) → Elkridge (25,251) → Edgewood (25,116) → Arnold (24,825) → North Laurel (24,414) → Cockeysville (23,246) → Arbutus (20,135) → Westminster (20,099) → Rosedale (20,058) → Lake Shore (18,872) → Parole (18,527) → Maryland City (18,345) → Ferndale (16,669) → Aberdeen (16,422) → Brooklyn Park (15,902) → Rossville (15,503) → Havre de Grace (14,743) → Joppatowne (13,391) → Overlea (12,794) → Annapolis Neck (12,712) → Riviera Beach (12,121) → Mays Chapel (12,059) → Honeygo (12,045) → Scaggsville (10,793) → Timonium (10,793) → Linthicum (10,731) → Bel Air (10,630) → White Marsh (10,337) → Fort Meade (10,011) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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