City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 4.2% higher than in Baltimore, MD. Someone earning $100,000 in Baltimore, MD would need about $104,200 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,511 in Baltimore, MD. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Baltimore, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,145 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Baltimore, MD.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $121,785 in either. A transfer from Baltimore, MD to Washington, DC changes real buying power by −4.0%, purely from prices.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,208 in Washington | $95,962 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,145/yr.
44 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Baltimore, MD
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,145/yr.
82 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Both metros are in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | Real change, Baltimore → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $70,623 | −4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $85,447 | −4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $102,415 | −4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $121,785 | −4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $143,913 | −4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $138,170 | $148,950 | $142,935 (+3.4%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $154,930 | $148,674 (+7.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $102,140 | $98,015 (+15.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $102,710 | $98,562 (−1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.