What is the cost of living in Baltimore, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Baltimore has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Baltimore has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Baltimore ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Baltimore ranks as the #181 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Baltimore, check out:
Baltimore Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Baltimore. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Baltimore is 109.
The Groceries index in Baltimore is 114.
The Health index in Baltimore is 99.
The Housing index in Baltimore is 114.
The Transportation index in Baltimore is 112.
The Utilities index in Baltimore is 109.
| Living Expense | Baltimore | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 109 | 100 |
Baltimore Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Baltimore Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Baltimore, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Baltimore is $188,101.
The Median Rent in Baltimore is $1,331.
The Median Income in Baltimore is $62,177.
The Home Value To Income in Baltimore is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Baltimore is 0.26x.
Baltimore, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Baltimore Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Baltimore Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Baltimore Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Baltimore Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Baltimore SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Baltimore
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Baltimore. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 138, 1.3x Baltimore.
Dundalk, MD has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Baltimore.
Towson, MD has a cost of living index of 135, 1.2x Baltimore.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD | 104,338 | 138 | 1.3x |
| Dundalk, MD | 65,969 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Towson, MD | 58,679 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Severna Park, MD | 40,228 | 154 | 1.4x |
| Parkville, MD | 30,549 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.3x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 1.2x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.3x |
| Arnold, MD | 24,303 | 144 | 1.3x |
| Arbutus, MD | 22,507 | 115 | 1.1x |
