Baltimore, MD vs Portland, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Baltimore works out to about $75,700 in Portland, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.9% higher in Portland, goods 2.8% higher and other services 1.3% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in Portland and $1,937 in Baltimore, $1,608 a year less in Portland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $539,000 in Portland and $397,000 in Baltimore.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Portland was 2.4% more expensive than Baltimore.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Baltimore and Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
All items Baltimore, MD: 104.5 Portland, OR: 105.4
Goods Baltimore, MD: 102.4 Portland, OR: 105.2
Housing (rents) Baltimore, MD: 118.2 Portland, OR: 125.1
Utilities Baltimore, MD: 110.2 Portland, OR: 107.0
Other services Baltimore, MD: 101.5 Portland, OR: 100.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 105.4 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 | 125.1 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100.1 |
| Category | Baltimore | Portland | Portland vs Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 105.4 | +0.9% |
| Goods | 102.4 | 105.2 | +2.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 | 125.1 | +5.9% |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 107.0 | −2.9% |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100.1 | −1.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,937 | $1,803 | −6.9% |
| Typical home value | $397,000 | $539,000 | +35.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Baltimore | $75,000 | $75,700 | +0.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Baltimore and Portland has narrowed since 2008: 7.6 points then, 0.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.4 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 109.4 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 101.6 |
| 2011 | 108.8 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 106.5 | 104.3 |
| 2013 | 106.8 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 105.7 | 102.1 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 106.1 | 101.5 |
| 2017 | 107.6 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 107.3 |
| 2019 | 103.9 | 106.4 |
| 2020 | 105.4 | 105.8 |
| 2021 | 104.9 | 105.4 |
| 2022 | 102.4 | 108.8 |
| 2023 | 103.2 | 106.7 |
| 2024 | 104.5 | 105.4 |
Goods
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.0 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 105.7 | 102.2 |
| 2010 | 100.9 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 104.7 | 100.7 |
| 2012 | 104.3 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 102.2 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 103.3 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 101.8 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 100.1 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 99.9 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 101.8 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 100.6 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 100.7 | 109.2 |
| 2023 | 101.5 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 102.4 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 126.0 | 112.5 |
| 2009 | 127.3 | 114.0 |
| 2010 | 125.8 | 112.9 |
| 2011 | 127.0 | 113.4 |
| 2012 | 126.1 | 116.9 |
| 2013 | 132.9 | 116.1 |
| 2014 | 131.0 | 118.4 |
| 2015 | 123.4 | 123.1 |
| 2016 | 120.8 | 123.9 |
| 2017 | 122.9 | 129.7 |
| 2018 | 122.6 | 132.1 |
| 2019 | 123.5 | 131.2 |
| 2020 | 122.4 | 129.3 |
| 2021 | 120.9 | 127.8 |
| 2022 | 120.5 | 128.4 |
| 2023 | 116.8 | 124.8 |
| 2024 | 118.2 | 125.1 |
Utilities
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 123.8 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 129.1 | 94.2 |
| 2010 | 113.3 | 87.3 |
| 2011 | 106.5 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 103.8 | 90.6 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 105.0 |
| 2016 | 109.0 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 100.5 | 92.4 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 102.5 | 97.4 |
| 2022 | 101.8 | 91.5 |
| 2023 | 110.1 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 110.2 | 107.0 |
Other services
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.0 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 105.3 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 103.3 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 106.2 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 102.5 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 102.3 | 102.5 |
| 2014 | 100.8 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 103.8 | 102.1 |
| 2016 | 104.1 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 106.5 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 102.9 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 100.8 | 101.7 |
| 2020 | 102.3 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 103.0 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 98.3 | 104.3 |
| 2023 | 99.8 | 103.9 |
| 2024 | 101.5 | 100.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in Portland vs $1,937 in Baltimore
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,319 | $1,124 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,335 | $1,169 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,336 | $1,211 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,333 | $1,209 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,347 | $1,232 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,355 | $1,269 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,345 | $1,277 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,337 | $1,267 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,361 | $1,299 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,382 | $1,330 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,372 | $1,335 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,367 | $1,316 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,384 | $1,328 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,400 | $1,362 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,398 | $1,370 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,399 | $1,363 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,414 | $1,380 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,436 | $1,407 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,438 | $1,423 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,431 | $1,410 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,447 | $1,425 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,455 | $1,428 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,465 | $1,454 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,481 | $1,434 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,506 | $1,463 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,574 | $1,540 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,635 | $1,599 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,638 | $1,608 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,673 | $1,633 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,724 | $1,700 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,729 | $1,729 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,708 | $1,703 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,745 | $1,722 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,771 | $1,724 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,777 | $1,719 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,764 | $1,686 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,785 | $1,711 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,826 | $1,757 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,836 | $1,767 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,835 | $1,741 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,860 | $1,752 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,874 | $1,781 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,886 | $1,783 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,881 | $1,757 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,900 | $1,767 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,915 | $1,789 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,937 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $539,000 in Portland vs $397,000 in Baltimore
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $260K | $292K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $262K | $299K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $263K | $309K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $265K | $321K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $266K | $333K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $267K | $345K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $268K | $352K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $271K | $360K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $274K | $370K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $276K | $377K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $276K | $381K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $279K | $384K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $283K | $392K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $285K | $397K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $286K | $399K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $287K | $400K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $290K | $404K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $293K | $406K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $294K | $406K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $296K | $411K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $301K | $421K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $302K | $424K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $306K | $430K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $317K | $451K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $328K | $473K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $341K | $497K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $344K | $510K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $347K | $521K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $357K | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $368K | $568K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $366K | $554K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $364K | $541K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $367K | $531K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $374K | $536K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $378K | $542K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $379K | $542K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $383K | $543K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $388K | $545K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $387K | $546K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $391K | $550K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $394K | $550K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $395K | $543K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $395K | $540K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $396K | $544K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $397K | $543K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $397K | $538K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $397K | $539K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Baltimore, MD
- Cost of living in Portland, OR
- Reverse: moving from Portland to Baltimore
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.