Cost of Living in Baltimore, MD, United States

Updated On May 27, 2025

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

United States FlagUnited States : Cost of Living by City

Cost of Living in United States
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 United States

City Cost of Living Index
United States FlagAlbany, NY 72.4
United States FlagAlbuquerque, NM 72.4
United States FlagAnchorage, AK 72.4
United States FlagAnn Arbor, MI 72.4
United States FlagArlington, TX 72.4
United States FlagAsheville, NC 72.4
United States FlagAtlanta, GA 72.4
United States FlagAustin, TX 72.4
United States FlagBakersfield, CA 72.4
United States FlagBellevue, WA 72.4
United States FlagBellingham, WA 72.4
United States FlagBerkeley, CA 72.4
United States FlagBirmingham, AL 72.4
United States FlagBoise, ID 72.4
United States FlagBoston, MA 72.4
United States FlagBoulder, CO 72.4
United States FlagBrooklyn, NY 72.4
United States FlagBuffalo, NY 72.4
United States FlagBurlington, VT 72.4
United States FlagCharleston, SC 72.4
United States FlagCharlotte, NC 73.33
United States FlagChattanooga, TN 72.4
United States FlagChicago, IL 72.4
United States FlagCincinnati, OH 72.4
United States FlagCleveland, OH 72.4
United States FlagColumbia, SC 72.4
United States FlagColumbus, OH 72.4
United States FlagDallas, TX 72.4
United States FlagDayton, OH 72.4
United States FlagDenver, CO 72.4
United States FlagDes Moines, IA 72.4
United States FlagDetroit, MI 72.4
United States FlagEl Paso, TX 72.4
United States FlagEugene, OR 72.4
United States FlagEverett, WA 72.4
United States FlagFayetteville, AR 72.4
United States FlagFort Myers, FL 72.4
United States FlagFort Wayne, IN 72.4
United States FlagFort Worth, TX 72.4
United States FlagFresno, CA 74.2
United States FlagGainesville, FL 74.2
United States FlagGrand Rapids, MI 74.2
United States FlagGreensboro, NC 74.2
United States FlagHartford, CT 74.2
United States FlagHonolulu, HI 74.2
United States FlagHouston, TX 74.2
United States FlagHuntsville, AL 74.2
United States FlagIndianapolis, IN 74.2
United States FlagIrvine, CA 74.2
United States FlagJacksonville, FL 74.2
United States FlagJersey City, NJ 74.2
United States FlagKansas City, MO 74.2
United States FlagKnoxville, TN 74.2
United States FlagLas Vegas, NV 74.2
United States FlagLexington, KY 74.2
United States FlagLittle Rock, AR 74.2
United States FlagLong Beach, CA 74.2
United States FlagLos Angeles, CA 74.2
United States FlagLouisville, KY 74.2
United States FlagLubbock, TX 74.2
United States FlagMadison, WI 74.2
United States FlagMemphis, TN 74.2
United States FlagMiami, FL 74.2
United States FlagMilwaukee, WI 74.2
United States FlagMinneapolis, MN 74.2
United States FlagNashville, TN 74.2
United States FlagNew Orleans, LA 74.2
United States FlagNew York, NY 74.2
United States FlagOakland, CA 74.2
United States FlagOklahoma City, OK 74.2
United States FlagOlympia, WA 74.2
United States FlagOrlando, FL 74.2
United States FlagPeoria, IL 72.4
United States FlagPhiladelphia, PA 72.4
United States FlagPhoenix, AZ 72.4
United States FlagPittsburgh, PA 72.4
United States FlagPortland, ME 72.4
United States FlagPortland, OR 72.4
United States FlagRaleigh, NC 72.4
United States FlagReno, NV 72.4
United States FlagRichmond, VA 74.2
United States FlagRochester, NY 74.2
United States FlagSacramento, CA 74.2
United States FlagSaint Louis, MO 74.2
United States FlagSaint Paul, MN 74.2
United States FlagSaint Petersburg, FL 74.2
United States FlagSalem, OR 74.2
United States FlagSalt Lake City, UT 74.2
United States FlagSan Antonio, TX 74.2
United States FlagSan Diego, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Francisco, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Jose, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Barbara, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Rosa, CA 74.2
United States FlagSeattle, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpokane, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpringfield, MO 74.2
United States FlagSyracuse, NY 74.2
United States FlagTacoma, WA 74.2
United States FlagTallahassee, FL 74.2
United States FlagTampa, FL 74.2
United States FlagToledo, OH 74.2
United States FlagTucson, AZ 74.2
United States FlagTulsa, OK 74.2
United States FlagVancouver, WA 74.2
United States FlagVirginia Beach, VA 74.2
United States FlagWashington, DC 74.2
United States FlagWest Palm Beach, FL 74.2
United States FlagWichita, KS 74.2

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