Washington vs Baltimore
Washington, DC · Baltimore, MD
Baltimore is 31% cheaper than Washington overall.
Home Price
Washington: $575,000
Baltimore: $320,000
Monthly Rent
Washington: $2,195/mo
Baltimore: $1,300/mo
COL Index
Washington: 154
Baltimore: 107
Median Income
Washington: $98,700
Baltimore: $71,000
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Washington has the same purchasing power as $69,481 in Baltimore — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Baltimore cost 44% more (-$255,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Baltimore saves you $895/month — $10,740 per year. Median rent: $2,195/mo in Washington vs $1,300/mo in Baltimore.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Washington owners pay roughly $3,278/year in property taxes vs $3,488/year in Baltimore. That's a $211 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $98,700 in Washington and $71,000 in Baltimore. Baltimore residents earn 28% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 34 minutes in Washington vs 32 minutes in Baltimore. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Washington to Baltimore, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Washington | Equivalent in Baltimore | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $34,740 | -$15,260 |
| $75,000 | $52,110 | -$22,890 |
| $100,000 | $69,481 | -$30,519 |
| $150,000 | $104,221 | -$45,779 |
| $200,000 | $138,961 | -$61,039 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Washington or Baltimore
Washington Calculators
Baltimore Calculators
Related Comparisons
Washington vs Baltimore: Common Questions
Is Washington or Baltimore cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Baltimore is cheaper overall. Washington has a COL index of 154 while Baltimore scores 107 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Washington and Baltimore?
The median home price in Washington is $575,000 vs $320,000 in Baltimore — a difference of $255,000 (44%).
What salary do I need in Baltimore to match my Washington income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Washington is equivalent to $69,481 in Baltimore in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Washington has a lower property tax rate (0.57% vs 1.09%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,278/year vs $3,488/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.