Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, MD is 18.9% lower than in Washington, DC (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Baltimore, MD is 30.9% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Rent Prices in Baltimore, MD are 50.2% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Restaurant Prices in Baltimore, MD are 20.4% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Groceries Prices in Baltimore, MD are 13.8% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Baltimore, MD is 13.2% lower than in Washington, DC | |
Restaurants | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $26.50 | $19.00 | -28.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $115.00 | $90.50 | -21.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $10.79 | -10.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $8.50 | $7.00 | -17.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $10.00 | $8.00 | -20.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $6.14 | $5.19 | -15.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.36 | $3.31 | -1.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.74 | $2.75 | +0.7 % |
Markets | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.18 | $1.09 | -7.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.67 | $3.57 | -2.8 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $3.57 | $2.09 | -41.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $5.71 | $4.49 | -21.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $7.85 | $5.85 | -25.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $8.22 | $5.44 | -33.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $8.94 | $8.02 | -10.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $3.12 | $2.62 | -15.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $1.05 | $0.71 | -33.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.27 | $2.73 | +20.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.44 | $2.35 | -3.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.29 | $1.22 | -5.6 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.63 | $1.28 | -21.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.55 | $2.53 | -0.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.49 | $2.34 | -6.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $16.00 | $15.00 | -6.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $3.28 | $2.60 | -20.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $5.50 | $3.86 | -29.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $13.94 | $14.17 | +1.6 % |
Transportation | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $3.00 | $2.00 | -33.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $120.00 | $77.00 | -35.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $4.00 | $1.80 | -55.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.56 | $2.21 | -13.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $25.00 | $24.00 | -4.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $1.01 | $0.92 | -8.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $36,375.00 | $36,570.00 | +0.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,962.29 | $25,684.04 | -1.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $210.59 | $218.02 | +3.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $80.00 | $76.41 | -4.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $71.86 | $89.48 | +24.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $117.78 | $50.88 | -56.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $74.17 | $47.61 | -35.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $17.00 | $15.00 | -11.8 % |
Childcare | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $3,221.33 | $1,925.56 | -40.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $41,506.00 | $34,903.57 | -15.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $74.20 | $55.37 | -25.4 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $44.11 | $63.14 | +43.1 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $109.89 | $91.07 | -17.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $144.05 | $111.15 | -22.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $2,606.88 | $1,764.00 | -32.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,120.00 | $1,093.33 | -48.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $5,376.67 | $2,346.36 | -56.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $4,305.56 | $1,975.56 | -54.1 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $800.41 | $232.17 | -71.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $302.37 | $215.80 | -28.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Washington, DC Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $7,120.14 | $4,269.29 | -40.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.14 | 6.26 | +1.9 % |
| Last update: | 10 June 2026 | 12 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 82 | 40 | |
Moving to Washington, DC? Explore:
Moving to Baltimore, MD? Explore:
Cities near Washington, DC: | Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 4.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 7.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 13.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 17.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 38.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 52.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 61.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 106.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 113.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 117.62 miles |
Cities near Baltimore, MD: | Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 37.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 37.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Washington, District of Columbia | 38.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 43.11 miles |
| Cost of Living in Germantown, Maryland | 48.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 52.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Herndon, Virginia | 57.71 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 76.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 79.41 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 88.39 miles |