Baltimore, MD vs Washington, DC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Washington, DC is 4.2% more expensive than Baltimore, MD (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Baltimore works out to about $78,200 in Washington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 27.9% more in Washington. Goods are 2.4% higher and other services 0.8% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,407 a month in Washington and $1,937 in Baltimore, $5,640 a year more in Washington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $570,000 in Washington and $397,000 in Baltimore.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.6%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 27.9% higher in Washington than in Baltimore
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
All items Baltimore, MD: 104.5 Washington, DC: 108.9
Goods Baltimore, MD: 102.4 Washington, DC: 104.8
Housing (rents) Baltimore, MD: 118.2 Washington, DC: 151.1
Utilities Baltimore, MD: 110.2 Washington, DC: 106.7
Other services Baltimore, MD: 101.5 Washington, DC: 102.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 108.9 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 104.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 | 151.1 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 102.3 |
| Category | Baltimore | Washington | Washington vs Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 108.9 | +4.2% |
| Goods | 102.4 | 104.8 | +2.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 | 151.1 | +27.9% |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 106.7 | −3.2% |
| Other services | 101.5 | 102.3 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,937 | $2,407 | +24.3% |
| Typical home value | $397,000 | $570,000 | +43.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Baltimore | $75,000 | $78,200 | +4.2% |
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 Washington has narrowed since 2008: 8.4 points then, 4.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.4 | 114.8 |
| 2009 | 109.4 | 115.0 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 114.6 |
| 2011 | 108.8 | 113.5 |
| 2012 | 106.5 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 106.8 | 113.9 |
| 2014 | 105.7 | 113.7 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 106.1 | 112.1 |
| 2017 | 107.6 | 109.8 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 111.2 |
| 2019 | 103.9 | 109.8 |
| 2020 | 105.4 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 104.9 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 102.4 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 103.2 | 109.5 |
| 2024 | 104.5 | 108.9 |
Goods
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.0 | 111.6 |
| 2009 | 105.7 | 112.6 |
| 2010 | 100.9 | 108.5 |
| 2011 | 104.7 | 106.5 |
| 2012 | 104.3 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 102.2 | 108.9 |
| 2014 | 103.3 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 101.8 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 103.1 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 105.2 |
| 2019 | 99.9 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 101.8 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 100.6 | 108.5 |
| 2022 | 100.7 | 106.9 |
| 2023 | 101.5 | 106.4 |
| 2024 | 102.4 | 104.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 126.0 | 168.2 |
| 2009 | 127.3 | 168.9 |
| 2010 | 125.8 | 171.2 |
| 2011 | 127.0 | 173.2 |
| 2012 | 126.1 | 172.3 |
| 2013 | 132.9 | 176.2 |
| 2014 | 131.0 | 175.2 |
| 2015 | 123.4 | 171.4 |
| 2016 | 120.8 | 170.9 |
| 2017 | 122.9 | 166.2 |
| 2018 | 122.6 | 169.0 |
| 2019 | 123.5 | 162.9 |
| 2020 | 122.4 | 165.1 |
| 2021 | 120.9 | 162.5 |
| 2022 | 120.5 | 157.1 |
| 2023 | 116.8 | 151.9 |
| 2024 | 118.2 | 151.1 |
Utilities
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 123.8 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 129.1 | 120.6 |
| 2010 | 113.3 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 106.5 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 107.9 |
| 2013 | 103.8 | 107.4 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 104.2 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 108.0 |
| 2016 | 109.0 | 112.4 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 108.1 |
| 2018 | 100.5 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 102.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 102.5 | 108.3 |
| 2022 | 101.8 | 101.7 |
| 2023 | 110.1 | 105.7 |
| 2024 | 110.2 | 106.7 |
Other services
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.0 | 105.5 |
| 2009 | 105.3 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 103.3 | 106.8 |
| 2011 | 106.2 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 102.5 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 102.3 | 104.7 |
| 2014 | 100.8 | 107.8 |
| 2015 | 103.8 | 108.3 |
| 2016 | 104.1 | 105.3 |
| 2017 | 106.5 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 102.9 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 100.8 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 102.3 | 103.9 |
| 2021 | 103.0 | 102.6 |
| 2022 | 98.3 | 104.4 |
| 2023 | 99.8 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 101.5 | 102.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,407 in Washington vs $1,937 in Baltimore
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
- 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 | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,319 | $1,697 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,335 | $1,721 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,336 | $1,722 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,333 | $1,712 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,347 | $1,729 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,355 | $1,750 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,345 | $1,752 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,337 | $1,739 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,361 | $1,769 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,382 | $1,795 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,372 | $1,794 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,367 | $1,783 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,384 | $1,805 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,400 | $1,835 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,398 | $1,840 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,399 | $1,843 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,414 | $1,865 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,436 | $1,895 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,438 | $1,901 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,431 | $1,891 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,447 | $1,918 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,455 | $1,912 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,465 | $1,895 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,481 | $1,847 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,506 | $1,871 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,574 | $1,949 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,635 | $2,033 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,638 | $2,043 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,673 | $2,075 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,724 | $2,149 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,729 | $2,184 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,708 | $2,138 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,745 | $2,176 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,771 | $2,221 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,777 | $2,249 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,764 | $2,229 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,785 | $2,265 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,826 | $2,325 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,836 | $2,346 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,835 | $2,321 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,860 | $2,365 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,874 | $2,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,886 | $2,375 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,881 | $2,336 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,900 | $2,364 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,915 | $2,391 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,937 | $2,407 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $570,000 in Washington vs $397,000 in Baltimore
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, DC
- 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 | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $260K | $372K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $262K | $373K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $263K | $375K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $265K | $379K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $266K | $382K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $267K | $382K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $268K | $383K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $271K | $388K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $274K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $276K | $396K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $276K | $397K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $279K | $402K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $283K | $407K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $285K | $409K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $286K | $413K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $287K | $415K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $290K | $420K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $293K | $424K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $294K | $425K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $296K | $430K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $301K | $438K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $302K | $442K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $306K | $448K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $317K | $465K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $328K | $481K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $341K | $500K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $344K | $505K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $347K | $507K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $357K | $525K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $368K | $543K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $366K | $535K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $364K | $530K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $367K | $529K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $374K | $537K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $378K | $545K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $379K | $547K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $383K | $552K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $388K | $561K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $387K | $564K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $391K | $570K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $394K | $573K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $395K | $570K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $395K | $569K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $396K | $571K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $397K | $571K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $397K | $568K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $397K | $570K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Baltimore, MD
- Cost of living in Washington, DC
- Reverse: moving from Washington 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.