Cost of Living in Baltimore, MD, United States

Updated On June 16, 2023

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Baltimore, MD?

Before moving to Baltimore, there is some basic information that you should know.

They can be taken either as advantages or disadvantages and once you have them all in your mind, some of them can make you change your mind before packing.

Baltimore is Maryland‘s busiest city, which highly affects the prices here, causing them to rise.

That means that you will have to adjust to the new situation and even stop the lifestyle you are used to.

Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

One of the factors that should be included when determining the budget is the amount spent at the restaurants.

These expenses are not the same for every person, as desires and preferences differ, but they can make a huge hole in your budget if you go to expensive restaurants in Baltimore.

Markets

MARKETS

The price of foodstuff is high and determining the exact amount that will be spent on this is impossible due to the fact that people have different shopping habits.

But, the data provided allows us to take a look at certain averages and figure out the general cost of basic groceries in Baltimore.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Depending on how far you live from your working place, you can determine whether to drive or take a bus.

Gasoline prices in Baltimore are on par with the national average and many people drive there.

If you prefer public transportation, you will save a lot, as the cost of a monthly bus pass is approximately $75.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

While home prices are constantly increasing due to the large number of people settling in the city, utility prices are relatively stable and not so high, except for the Internet, which is more expensive than in the rest of the country.

You can expect the bills to be higher during winter months due to the heating.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

If you are fond of sports and exercising, you will have to pay either $18.5 for one hour of tennis, or $76 for the whole month practicing at the local gyms.

Entertainment prices are not so high when compared to the average salaries and the standard of living in Baltimore.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

Besides these above-mentioned few basic things to consider if you are planning on living and working in Baltimore, the cost of clothes is also one expense that should be worried about, especially if you have younger children interested in branded apparel.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Buying a house here is an option, but the prices of property are a little higher than the national average, thus the majority of newcomers decide to rent.

Baltimore offers a wide array of housing options, at various prices, ranging from $1300 for the smallest apartment out of the center, to $3000 for a three-bedroom one in the main areas.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Baltimore, MD

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$14.50
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$5
Water (0.33 Liter)$1.89
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$1.05
Loaf Bread (500g)$3.08
Eggs (12)$3.98
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$2.00
Monthly Pass$75.0
Gasoline$0.92
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$142.68
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.12
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$76
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$75.43
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$18.5
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$13.0
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$65.0
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$25.00
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$66.25
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$1452.69
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$1280.62
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$3000.00

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Baltimore, MD?

The rent in Baltimore would be your highest expense and the monthly cost of your future place of residence will vary depending on things like the quality of the neighborhood, the state of the building, and the size of the apartment.

Calculate whether it is cost-effective to rent an apartment out of the city center and commute daily to work, or whether it is better to pay higher rents and live close to your working place.

The second highest expense would be food, as prices are generally high in the United States.

Average Costs Breakdown

11.6%
30.9%
8.3%
6.9%
5.4%
1.7%
35%

Baltimore, MD: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

When the advantages and disadvantages are in question, the bad news is that the cost of living in Baltimore is higher than the national average which makes it quite an expensive city, while on the other hand, the average salaries are quite high, making the expenses bearable.

As in any city, there are plenty of ways to counterbalance these costs, and wise people, careful with money would know how to save it.

Make sure that you earn enough to cover the expenses, as the minimum salary would not be sufficient.

Average Salary$5182.88
Minimum Wage$1256.7
Mortgage Interest Rate5.61%

Baltimore Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Baltimore Safety Review

Safety Index:
56
  • OVERALL RISK: HIGH
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
  • MUGGING RISK: HIGH
  • TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
  • SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Cost of Living by City in Baltimore, MD

CityCost of Living Index
Albany, NY72.4
Albuquerque, NM72.4
Anchorage, AK72.4
Ann Arbor, MI72.4
Arlington, TX72.4
Asheville, NC72.4
Atlanta, GA72.4
Austin, TX72.4
Bakersfield, CA72.4
Bellevue, WA72.4
Bellingham, WA72.4
Berkeley, CA72.4
Birmingham, AL72.4
Boise, ID72.4
Boston, MA72.4
Boulder, CO72.4
Brooklyn, NY72.4
Buffalo, NY72.4
Burlington, VT72.4
Charleston, SC72.4
Charlotte, NC73.33
Chattanooga, TN72.4
Chicago, IL72.4
Cincinnati, OH72.4
Cleveland, OH72.4
Columbia, SC72.4
Columbus, OH72.4
Dallas, TX72.4
Dayton, OH72.4
Denver, CO72.4
Des Moines, IA72.4
Detroit, MI72.4
El Paso, TX72.4
Eugene, OR72.4
Everett, WA72.4
Fayetteville, AR72.4
Fort Myers, FL72.4
Fort Wayne, IN72.4
Fort Worth, TX72.4
Fresno, CA74.2
Gainesville, FL74.2
Grand Rapids, MI74.2
Greensboro, NC74.2
Hartford, CT74.2
Honolulu, HI74.2
Houston, TX74.2
Huntsville, AL74.2
Indianapolis, IN74.2
Irvine, CA74.2
Jacksonville, FL74.2
Jersey City, NJ74.2
Kansas City, MO74.2
Knoxville, TN74.2
Las Vegas, NV74.2
Lexington, KY74.2
Little Rock, AR74.2
Long Beach, CA74.2
Los Angeles, CA74.2
Louisville, KY74.2
Lubbock, TX74.2
Madison, WI74.2
Memphis, TN74.2
Miami, FL74.2
Milwaukee, WI74.2
Minneapolis, MN74.2
Nashville, TN74.2
New Orleans, LA74.2
New York, NY74.2
Oakland, CA74.2
Oklahoma City, OK74.2
Olympia, WA74.2
Orlando, FL74.2
Peoria, IL72.4
Philadelphia, PA72.4
Phoenix, AZ72.4
Pittsburgh, PA72.4
Portland, ME72.4
Portland, OR72.4
Raleigh, NC72.4
Reno, NV72.4
Richmond, VA74.2
Rochester, NY74.2
Sacramento, CA74.2
Saint Louis, MO74.2
Saint Paul, MN74.2
Saint Petersburg, FL74.2
Salem, OR74.2
Salt Lake City, UT74.2
San Antonio, TX74.2
San Diego, CA74.2
San Francisco, CA74.2
San Jose, CA74.2
Santa Barbara, CA74.2
Santa Rosa, CA74.2
Seattle, WA74.2
Spokane, WA74.2
Springfield, MO74.2
Syracuse, NY74.2
Tacoma, WA74.2
Tallahassee, FL74.2
Tampa, FL74.2
Toledo, OH74.2
Tucson, AZ74.2
Tulsa, OK74.2
Vancouver, WA74.2
Virginia Beach, VA74.2
Washington, DC74.2
West Palm Beach, FL74.2
Wichita, KS74.2

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

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