New York, NY vs Baltimore, MD: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Baltimore, MD has a modeled overall cost index 36.9% lower than New York, NY.

New York, NY · modeled 2BR rent
$3,590 / month
Baltimore, MD · modeled 2BR rent
$1,770 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare New York, NY and Baltimore, MD using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,865/month in Baltimore, MD

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $115,623 in Baltimore, MD

Regional cost estimates: New York, NY uses New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Area. Baltimore, MD uses Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 36.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,865
Savings
Annual Impact
$34.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

New York, NY

Population:8337K
Cost Index:
168.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.05M

Baltimore, MD

Population:586K
Cost Index:
106.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$218K

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New York, NY

The Empire State

8.3M
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • •Most populous city in the US
  • •Major global financial center
  • •World-renowned cultural hub

Major Industries

FinanceReal EstateTechnologyMedia

Baltimore, MD

The Old Line State

586K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 586K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: New York, NY vs Baltimore, MD

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 59.2%
New York, NY
$4,176
Baltimore, MD
$1,703
Difference
$2,473
less
Other
↓ 16.0%
New York, NY
$1,110
Baltimore, MD
$932
Difference
$178
less
Transportation
↓ 13.9%
New York, NY
$875
Baltimore, MD
$753
Difference
$122
less
Healthcare
↓ 14.4%
New York, NY
$375
Baltimore, MD
$321
Difference
$54.12
less
Groceries
↓ 6.5%
New York, NY
$636
Baltimore, MD
$595
Difference
$41.46
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.1%
New York, NY
$328
Baltimore, MD
$331
Difference
$3.58
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

New York, NY: NYC Income Tax$5,689/yr (3.8%)
Baltimore, MD: Baltimore City Income Tax$4,800/yr (3.2%)
Net difference-$889/yr

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$3,120
To$1,270
↓ $1,850
1 Bed
From$3,270
To$1,450
↓ $1,820
2 Bed
From$3,590
To$1,770
↓ $1,820
3 Bed
From$4,500
To$2,280
↓ $2,220
New York, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,260–$3,990/mo

Baltimore, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,450–$1,790/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in New York, NY
$4,635
Monthly in Baltimore, MD
$2,865
Difference

Home Values

New York
Baltimore
$1.05M
Median Value
$218K
↓ -0.1%
YoY Change
↓ -0.6%
↓ -5.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +20%
$471K - $3.49M
Price Range
$72K - $469K

Homes in Baltimore are 79% less expensive than New York

Calculate payment - New YorkCalculate payment - Baltimore

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$190
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.5%
Rate difference

New York, NY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New York State Tax
Effective: 6.4%
$9.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.0%
$46.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,620/month
$103.4K

Baltimore, MD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Maryland State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.5%
$44.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,811/month
$105.7K

Additional Tax Information

New York, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:1.2%

Baltimore, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.1%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

New York, NY: No data yet
Baltimore, MD
30/100
1.3% sidewalk tags · 3.2% cycling tags

Environment

New York
Baltimore
43 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
65.8%
Good Air Days
65.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days

Before moving from New York, NY to Baltimore, MD

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Baltimore, MD for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in New York, NY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your New York to Baltimore moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Baltimore, MD by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: New York, NY vs Baltimore, MD

How do the cost estimates for New York, NY and Baltimore, MD compare?

Baltimore, MD has a modeled overall cost index 36.9% lower than New York, NY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in New York, NY, the model estimates $115,623 in Baltimore, MD. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for New York, NY and Baltimore, MD?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,590/month in New York, NY and $1,770/month in Baltimore, MD. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New York and Maryland on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than New York, NY on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $3,839/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $3,824/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $3,736/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $3,695/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $3,669/mo

Similar cost to Baltimore, MD

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