Baltimore, MD · Houston, TX

Cost of Living: Baltimore vs Houston

Living in Houston, TX costs 5.6% less than in Baltimore, MD: a $100,000 salary in Baltimore, MD buys what $94,394 buys in Houston, TX, based on BEA regional price parities for 2024.

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Baltimore vs Houston: prices, pay and housing

Baltimore, MDHouston, TX
BEA price parity (U.S. = 100)104.598.6
Average salary, all jobs$76,370$67,610
Median salary, all jobs$59,070$49,410
Average salary adjusted for prices$73,090$68,550
Take-home on the average salary*$59,140$56,394
Typical home value$405,877$308,306
Median household income$97,300$80,458
Home price / household income4.23.8
Metro population2,839,4097,274,714

*Single filer, federal and state income tax and FICA (2026 rules); city income taxes included where we model them.

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Equivalent salary: Baltimore to Houston

To keep the same standard of living when moving from Baltimore to Houston, multiply your salary by 0.944.

Salary in BaltimoreSame buying power in Houston
$50,000 in Baltimore$47,197 in Houston
$75,000 in Baltimore$70,795 in Houston
$100,000 in Baltimore$94,394 in Houston
$150,000 in Baltimore$141,590 in Houston
$200,000 in Baltimore$188,787 in Houston

Salaries for common jobs in Baltimore and Houston

JobBaltimoreHoustonAdjusted for prices
Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,820$27,630$32,368 / $28,014
General and Operations Managers$134,760$146,320$128,973 / $148,354
Retail Salespersons$37,320$34,640$35,717 / $35,122
Stockers and Order Fillers$40,710$38,670$38,962 / $39,208
Registered Nurses$99,100$100,290$94,844 / $101,684
Customer Service Representatives$45,800$43,380$43,833 / $43,983
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,960$25,830$37,287 / $26,189
Cashiers$34,670$30,100$33,181 / $30,518
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$43,010$39,910$41,163 / $40,465
Waiters and Waitresses$43,030$29,180$41,182 / $29,586
Office Clerks, General$48,130$43,320$46,063 / $43,922
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,770$58,160$58,160 / $58,968
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,830$32,660$37,163 / $33,114
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,190$73,150$72,918 / $74,167
Project Management Specialists$111,580$107,190$106,788 / $108,680
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary

Adjusted = average salary divided by the BEA price parity: what it buys in a typical U.S. metro.

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Baltimore vs Houston: questions

Is Baltimore more expensive than Houston?

Yes. BEA prices are 104.5 in Baltimore, MD and 98.6 in Houston, TX (U.S. = 100).

What salary do I need in Houston to match $100,000 in Baltimore?

About $94,394, before taxes.

Where do salaries go further, Baltimore or Houston?

Baltimore, MD: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.

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