Baltimore is about 7% more expensive than Austin overall - $100,000 in Austin is worth about $106,548 in Baltimore.
The housing gap between Austin and Baltimore is the headline story. A median home in Austin costs $512,700 compared to $219,300 in Baltimore - a 57% difference that shapes everything from your down-payment timeline to your commute radius. For first-time buyers, that translates to a $51,270 down payment in Austin versus $21,930 in Baltimore.
For renters, the picture flips. The typical apartment in Austin costs $1,655/month versus $1,290/month in Baltimore. But income matters too: the median household in Austin earns $91,461 and in Baltimore earns $59,623. That means rent swallows about 21.7% of median income in Austin and 26.0% in Baltimore.
Both cities are similarly sized metros - Austin has 967,862 people and Baltimore has 577,193. That means comparable access to jobs, airports, and cultural amenities without the extremes of a mega-city.
Monthly cost breakdown: Austin vs Baltimore
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Austin (rent) | Baltimore (rent) | Austin (own) | Baltimore (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,655 | $1,290 | $2,978 | $1,274 |
| Transportation | $1,226 | $851 | $1,226 | $851 |
| Food | $964 | $670 | $964 | $670 |
| Healthcare | $605 | $421 | $605 | $421 |
| Other | $2,153 | $1,495 | $2,153 | $1,495 |
| Total | $6,603 | $4,727 | $7,926 | $4,710 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Austin is roughly $19,860 per year in rent alone - $4,380 more than in Baltimore. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $106,548 in Baltimore to match $100,000 in Austin.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $51,270 in Austin versus $21,930 in Baltimore. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $1,704. Over five years, that’s $102,235 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Austin is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Austin has the purchasing power of about $127,857 in Baltimore. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Austin earns roughly $137,192 and in Baltimore earns $89,434. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Baltimore, that answer is harder.
Austin vs Baltimore: the numbers
| Metric | Austin | Baltimore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 98 | 104 | +7% |
| Median rent | $1,655 | $1,290 | -22% |
| Median home value | $512,700 | $219,300 | -57% |
| Median household income | $91,461 | $59,623 | -35% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $106,548 in Baltimore. Going the other way, $100,000 in Baltimore is like $93,855 in Austin.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Baltimore.
Job market snapshot: Austin vs Baltimore
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Austin | Baltimore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $154,010 | $136,230 | -12% |
| Software Developer | $131,320 | $138,370 | +5% |
| Data Scientist | $111,760 | $126,430 | +13% |
| Physical Therapist | $102,720 | $100,200 | -2% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,370 | $101,710 | -1% |
Moving from Austin to Baltimore: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Austin and Baltimore are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Baltimore.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.