City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Baltimore, MD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Anchorage, AK (105.4) and Baltimore, MD (104.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Anchorage, AK goes as far as $99,100 in Baltimore, MD.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $1,243 in Anchorage, AK. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 19% in Anchorage, AK.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,386 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Anchorage, AK.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.2% moving from Anchorage, AK to Baltimore, MD ($120,348 → $121,785), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Anchorage, AK | Baltimore, MD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 104.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,115 in Baltimore | $100,893 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $1,511/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,794 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $4,386 (MD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $59,070 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 118.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 102.4 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 110.2 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 101.5 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 104.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,386/yr.
72 Strong offer
Baltimore, MD → Anchorage, AK
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,386/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Baltimore, MD is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Baltimore, MD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Baltimore, MD | Real change, Anchorage → Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $70,623 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $85,447 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $102,415 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $121,785 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $143,913 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,270 | $76,400 | $77,082 (−2.8%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $138,900 | $140,140 (+34.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $85,160 | $85,920 (+4.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $99,550 | $100,439 (−12.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.