City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Trenton, NJ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 1.3% higher than in Trenton, NJ. Someone earning $100,000 in Trenton, NJ would need about $101,300 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,545 in Trenton, NJ.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,386 a year in MD and $4,180 in NJ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.0% moving from Baltimore, MD to Trenton, NJ ($121,785 → $125,431), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.3% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,749 in Trenton | $101,267 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,545/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $75,000 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,180 (NJ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $63,490 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Trenton-Princeton, NJ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 135.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 99.8 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 97.9 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Trenton, NJ
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$206/yr.
73 Strong offer
Trenton, NJ → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$206/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Trenton, NJ is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Trenton, NJ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Trenton, NJ | Real change, Baltimore → Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $72,737 | +4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $88,005 | +4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $105,481 | +4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $125,431 | +4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $148,222 | +4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Trenton, NJ | Trenton pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $77,850 | $78,836 (+3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $128,770 | $130,401 (−6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $99,550 | $100,811 (+18.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $99,990 | $101,257 (+1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.