Route comparison
Washington, DC vs Baltimore, MD: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Washington, DC
DC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 111.3
- Housing RPP
- 156.3
- Goods RPP
- 107.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,045/mo
DC income tax 4%-10.75%. MD and VA suburbs have own state taxes.
Baltimore, MD
MD
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 102.4
- Housing RPP
- 120.5
- Goods RPP
- 100.9
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,943/mo
Maryland income tax 2%-5.75% + county piggyback tax. Baltimore city adds 3.2%.
Equivalent salary
Baltimore, MD is cheaper than Washington, DC by about 8.0% (RPP 111.3 to 102.4).
$60,000 in Washington, DC
-> $55,202
in Baltimore, MD
$100,000 in Washington, DC
-> $92,004
in Baltimore, MD
$150,000 in Washington, DC
-> $138,005
in Baltimore, MD
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.
Migration signal: Washington, DC vs Baltimore, MD
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Washington, DC
- Net people
- −45,746
- Net rank
- #61 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Anne Arundel County, MD. Largest destination: Anne Arundel County, MD.
Baltimore, MD
- Net people
- −11,489
- Net rank
- #51 of 65
- Top origin share
- 8%
- Top destination share
- 4%
Largest source: Prince George's County, MD. Largest destination: Prince George's County, MD.
Rent delta: Baltimore, MD is $102/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Washington, DC. Housing RPP moves from 156.3 to 120.5.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Baltimore, MD cheaper or more expensive than Washington, DC?
- Baltimore, MD (RPP 102.4) is cheaper than Washington, DC (RPP 111.3) by about 8.0%.
- What salary do I need in Baltimore, MD if I earn $100,000 in Washington, DC?
- You would need approximately $92,004 in Baltimore, MD to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Washington, DC. Formula: $100,000 x (102.4 / 111.3).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD?
- For 2021-2022, Washington, DC had a net loss of 45,746 people, while Baltimore, MD had a net loss of 11,489 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.