City profile
Baltimore, MD cost of living
MD · BLS RPP 102.4
Overall RPP
102.4
US = 100
Housing RPP
120.5
Housing component
Goods RPP
100.9
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,943/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Baltimore, MD sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#26 of 67
+2.4 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+4.0
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#16 of 67
+337/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Baltimore, MD
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Baltimore, MD metro.
Moved in
142,314
people · 84,483 households
Moved out
153,803
people · 90,792 households
Net
−11,489
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#51 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-11,385
median -104 people
Largest flow share
8% in / 4% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Prince George's County, MD 11,177
- Montgomery County, MD 7,246
- District of Columbia, DC 2,337
- Frederick County, MD 1,743
- Fairfax County, VA 1,576
Where residents moved to
- Prince George's County, MD 5,793
- Montgomery County, MD 4,454
- York County, PA 3,202
- Frederick County, MD 3,107
- Sussex County, DE 1,694
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Baltimore, MD?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Baltimore, MD | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $51,200 | $50,000 x (102.4/100) |
| $75,000 | $76,800 | $75,000 x (102.4/100) |
| $100,000 | $102,400 | $100,000 x (102.4/100) |
| $125,000 | $128,000 | $125,000 x (102.4/100) |
| $150,000 | $153,600 | $150,000 x (102.4/100) |
| $200,000 | $204,800 | $200,000 x (102.4/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Maryland income tax 2%-5.75% + county piggyback tax. Baltimore city adds 3.2%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Baltimore, MD?
- Baltimore, MD has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 102.4 (US average = 100). It is 2.4% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Baltimore, MD?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $102,400 in Baltimore, MD to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Baltimore, MD?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is approximately $1,943 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Baltimore, MD?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 142,314 people moved into the Baltimore, MD metro and 153,803 moved out — a net loss of roughly 11,489 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Prince George's County, MD.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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