Question 1

Is Arlington or Baltimore cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $112/month less than in Baltimore, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,857/mo in Baltimore.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Baltimore?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $87,500/year in Baltimore, MD — a difference of about $12,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Baltimore cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $10,265/month in Baltimore, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Baltimore?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Baltimore53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$4,389
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$10,265
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$87,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,857
Median home value	$276,400	$219,300
Median household income	$73,519	$59,623
Unemployment	4.7%	5.5%
Housing score	57	46
Jobs score	51	40
Safety score	65	27
Climate score	94	99
Amenities score	73	34
Population	394.8K	577.2K
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	92° / 32°

Arlington, TX vs Baltimore, MD