City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Baltimore | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,235/mo | $2,080/mo | 40.6% lower in A |
| Median home value | $202,900 | $783,300 | 74.1% lower in A |
| Median household income | $58,349 | $98,657 | 40.9% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 106.3 | 110.2 | 3.5% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 92.5 | 135.0 | 31.5% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 94.3 | 117.2 | 19.5% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 114.7 | 121.0 | 5.2% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Baltimore, you'd need $138,453 in San Diego to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Baltimore, MD is about 27.8% cheaper overall than San Diego, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 41% lower in Baltimore than in San Diego. If you earn $80,000 in Baltimore, you'd need about $110,762 in San Diego to keep the same standard of living.