Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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  • SF → Denver
  • Chicago → Dallas

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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BaltimorevsChicago

Moving from Baltimore to Chicago will cost approximately $104,038 more on median home prices (24.7% higher). Monthly rent is $433 more expensive in Chicago. Note that median income is 23.9% lower in Chicago.

Housing
24.7% more
Rent
24.7% more
View BaltimoreView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Baltimore, MD

Median Home Price$421,236
Monthly Rent$1,755
Median Income$96,138
Population621,849
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274+24.7%
Monthly Rent
$2,189+24.7%
Median Income
$73,194-23.9%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Baltimore

2015$1,248
2020$1,359
2025$1,755

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Baltimore

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$45,762

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

24.7%
Housing Cost
more expensive in Chicago
$433
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
23.9%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Baltimore

Population621,849
Median Age34.7 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Baltimore

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Baltimore?

Baltimore is 24.7% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Baltimore is $421,236 compared to $525,274 in Chicago.

What is the rent difference between Baltimore and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Baltimore averages $1,755. That's a difference of $433 per month, or $5,202 annually.

How do incomes compare between Baltimore and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 23.9% lower than Baltimore's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Baltimore or Chicago?

Baltimore has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.