City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 12.5% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $112,500 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 $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,004 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Lexington, KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Lexington, KY ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.7% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,900 in Lexington | $112,486 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,004/yr.
100 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,004/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Lexington, KY | Real change, Baltimore → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $61,460 | $69,134 (−9.5%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $123,510 | $138,931 (+0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $77,780 | $87,492 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $79,040 | $88,909 (−10.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.