City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 12.7% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $112,700 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $473 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Baltimore, MD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Utica, NY ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,698 in Utica | $112,742 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$473/yr.
100 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$473/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Utica, NY | Real change, Baltimore → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $77,010 | $86,823 (+13.6%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $113,390 | $127,838 (−8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $79,830 | $90,002 (+5.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $94,300 | $106,316 (+6.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.