Question 1

Is Baltimore or Seattle cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $402/month less than in Seattle, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,857/mo in Baltimore versus $2,501/mo in Seattle.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Baltimore vs Seattle?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $87,500/year before tax in Baltimore, MD and $86,000/year in Seattle, WA — a difference of about $1,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Baltimore or Seattle cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Baltimore, 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 $12,749/month in Seattle, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Baltimore or Seattle?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Baltimore 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	Seattle59
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,389	$4,791
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,265	$12,749
Salary for comfort	$87,500/yr	$86,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,857	$2,501
Median home value	$219,300	$912,100
Median household income	$59,623	$121,984
Unemployment	5.5%	4.7%
Housing score	46	34
Jobs score	40	35
Safety score	27	40
Climate score	99	92
Amenities score	34	90
Population	577.2K	741.4K
Summer high / winter low	92° / 32°	76° / 37°

Baltimore, MD vs Seattle, WA