City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 1.1% higher than in Phoenix, AZ. Someone earning $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ would need about $101,100 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,095 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Phoenix, AZ ($121,785 → $111,338), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.5% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,879 in Phoenix | $101,133 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,095/yr.
72 Strong offer
Phoenix, AZ → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$2,095/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Baltimore → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $64,564 | −7.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $78,117 | −7.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $93,629 | −7.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $111,338 | −7.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $131,568 | −7.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $59,180 | $59,851 (−21.7%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $131,750 | $133,243 (−4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $80,820 | $81,736 (−4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $100,830 | $101,973 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.