City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Philadelphia, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 1.9% higher than in Philadelphia, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA would need about $101,900 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,520 in Philadelphia, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,316 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.7% moving from Baltimore, MD to Philadelphia, PA ($121,785 → $117,284), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Philadelphia, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 102.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,150 in Philadelphia | $101,885 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,520/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $54,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 113.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 114.4 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 103.1 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 102.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Philadelphia, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,316/yr.
75 Strong offer
Philadelphia, PA → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,316/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Philadelphia, PA is in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Philadelphia, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Philadelphia, PA | Real change, Baltimore → Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $68,013 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $82,289 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $98,630 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $117,284 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $138,595 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $78,570 | $80,051 (+4.8%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $133,040 | $135,548 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $85,990 | $87,611 (+2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $101,180 | $103,087 (+3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.