Question 1

Is Baltimore or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $85/month less than in Baltimore, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,857/mo in Baltimore versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Baltimore vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $87,500/year before tax in Baltimore, MD and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $3,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Baltimore or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Philadelphia, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,265/month in Baltimore and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Baltimore or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Philadelphia 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	Baltimore53	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,389	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,265	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$87,500/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,857	$1,810
Median home value	$219,300	$232,400
Median household income	$59,623	$60,698
Unemployment	5.5%	4.9%
Housing score	46	45
Jobs score	40	55
Safety score	27	4
Climate score	99	100
Amenities score	34	46
Population	577.2K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	92° / 32°	87° / 29°

Baltimore, MD vs Philadelphia, PA