Baltimore, MD · Seattle, WA

Cost of Living: Baltimore vs Seattle

Living in Baltimore, MD costs 6.0% less than in Seattle, WA: a $100,000 salary in Baltimore, MD buys what $106,361 buys in Seattle, WA, based on BEA regional price parities for 2024.

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Baltimore vs Seattle: prices, pay and housing

Baltimore, MDSeattle, WA
BEA price parity (U.S. = 100)104.5111.1
Average salary, all jobs$76,370$91,790
Median salary, all jobs$59,070$72,610
Average salary adjusted for prices$73,090$82,595
Take-home on the average salary*$59,140$73,404
Typical home value$405,877$750,279
Median household income$97,300$112,594
Home price / household income4.26.7
Metro population2,839,4094,021,467

*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 Seattle

To keep the same standard of living when moving from Baltimore to Seattle, multiply your salary by 1.064.

Salary in BaltimoreSame buying power in Seattle
$50,000 in Baltimore$53,180 in Seattle
$75,000 in Baltimore$79,770 in Seattle
$100,000 in Baltimore$106,361 in Seattle
$150,000 in Baltimore$159,541 in Seattle
$200,000 in Baltimore$212,721 in Seattle

Salaries for common jobs in Baltimore and Seattle

JobBaltimoreSeattleAdjusted for prices
Software Developers$153,910$174,920$147,301 / $157,397
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,960$49,500$37,287 / $44,541
Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,820$42,260$32,368 / $38,027
Retail Salespersons$37,320$45,020$35,717 / $40,510
Registered Nurses$99,100$126,390$94,844 / $113,729
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$102,650$110,050$98,242 / $99,025
Stockers and Order Fillers$40,710$47,470$38,962 / $42,715
Cashiers$34,670$44,720$33,181 / $40,240
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$43,010$49,650$41,163 / $44,676
General and Operations Managers$134,760$169,740$128,973 / $152,736
Office Clerks, General$48,130$56,470$46,063 / $50,813
Project Management Specialists$111,580$133,590$106,788 / $120,207
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,830$49,380$37,163 / $44,433
Waiters and Waitresses$43,030$62,940$41,182 / $56,635
Customer Service Representatives$45,800$56,350$43,833 / $50,705
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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 Seattle: questions

Is Baltimore more expensive than Seattle?

No. BEA prices are 104.5 in Baltimore, MD and 111.1 in Seattle, WA (U.S. = 100).

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

About $106,361, before taxes.

Where do salaries go further, Baltimore or Seattle?

Seattle, WA: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.

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