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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Maryland's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Baltimore at index 96, where median rent of $1,708/month saves renters $2,244/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Baltimore — cost index 96, rent $1,708/mo, income $59,623
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Maryland's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Baltimore at index 96, where median rent of $1,708/month saves renters $2,244/year versus the national median.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Baltimore ($1,708/mo, 20%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $69,547 to $69,547/year across these top picks. Surprising? Maybe. But the data's clear.
Baltimore earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And roughly speaking, the 96 cost index sits 16 points below the national baseline, and the $59,623 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $187,545 — $279,825 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 88, while Healthcare trails at 99.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours. That's not nothing.
565,239 residents · Maryland
Why Baltimore ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And most of the time, at 96 on the cost index, residents save roughly 16% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,708/month while the median household pulls in $59,623/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 88, though Healthcare (99) lags behind. Home prices average $187,545 — $279,825 below the national median. Not flashy. Just effective.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Baltimore | 5.75% | 6% | 0.87% | $69,547 |
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Baltimore ranks #1 in Maryland for this analysis with a cost index of 96 and median income of $59,623.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Baltimore, rent would consume about 20% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Baltimore is $1,708/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $187 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.75% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Baltimore is approximately $69,547/year ($5,796/month). After median rent of $1,708/month, you'd have roughly $49,051/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Baltimore is $187,545, which is 3.1× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Maryland has a 5.75% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.