City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Salem, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Baltimore, MD (104.5) and Salem, OR (103.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Baltimore, MD goes as far as $99,200 in Salem, OR.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $1,201 in Salem, OR. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 20% in Salem, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,534 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Baltimore, MD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.8% moving from Baltimore, MD to Salem, OR ($121,785 → $114,684), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.1% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,198 in Salem | $100,808 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,201/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Salem, OR MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Salem, OR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 110.3 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 105.3 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 104.7 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Salem, OR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$3,534/yr.
71 Strong offer
Salem, OR → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,534/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Salem, OR is in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Salem, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Salem, OR | Real change, Baltimore → Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $66,505 | −5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $80,465 | −5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $96,443 | −5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $114,684 | −5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $135,522 | −5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Salem, OR | Salem pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $74,810 | $75,415 (−1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $131,620 | $132,684 (−4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $87,480 | $88,187 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $131,750 | $132,815 (+33.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.