Cost of living, Baltimore
104.5
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Baltimore sits about 4.5% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +4.5%
- Metro
- Baltimore
- CBSA
- 12580
Baltimore all-items RPP is 104.5 (2024), about 4.5% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $94,050 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Baltimore
| Component | Baltimore | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 100 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 | 100 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Baltimore
| At US average | In Baltimore |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $62,700 |
| $90,000 | $94,050 |
| $150,000 | $156,750 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (104.5 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Baltimore?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is 104.5, versus a US average of 100 (+4.5%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $94,050 in Baltimore for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 1,970 OEWS emp. $268,030
- Physicians, All Other , 3,790 OEWS emp. $218,770
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 7,010 OEWS emp. $168,520
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 2,350 OEWS emp. $167,350
- Computer Network Architects , 2,480 OEWS emp. $160,340
- Financial Managers , 9,990 OEWS emp. $157,990
See methodology and disclaimer.