Home Affordability
#5
of 124 cities
≈2.2 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
#32 of 124
North America
Baltimore
MD, United States
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Baltimore compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Baltimore is 27% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Baltimore compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$79,680
-$93K (-54%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 34%
Community Insights
NewBaltimore offers a high-value proposition for software engineers who are priced out of other East Coast hubs but still crave an urban lifestyle. The city is defined by its "grit and charm," offering a low cost of living that allows tech workers to purchase homes—a rarity in the Northeast corridor. While the local tech scene is specialized (heavy on MedTech and defense), the real unlock for many engineers is the MARC train connection to Washington D.C., allowing for a high-salary hybrid lifestyle.
However, the low safety index (#121) is a reality that dictates daily life; residents emphasize that safety is highly block-by-block. Those who thrive here embrace the city's rougher edges in exchange for its rich culture, lack of pretension, and strong community feel.
Resident Sentiment
The sentiment among transplants is largely protective and proud, often adopting the "Charm City" moniker with genuine affection. Most residents freely admit the city's flaws (crime, litter, city services) but argue that the community spirit, arts scene, and affordability outweigh them.
Regret is rare among those who researched their neighborhoods carefully (sticking to the "White L" areas like Canton or Federal Hill), but common among those who moved blindly or expected a sanitized, high-efficiency city experience. The consensus is that Baltimore is "what you make of it"—it requires more effort to love than other cities, but the reward is a deeply loyal community.
Rankings
Top 4%
Comfortable Weather
#31
of 124 cities
66/100 weather score
Current value
Purchasing Power
#32
of 124 cities
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Baltimore compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Baltimore to maintain the same standard of living.
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