Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Annapolis, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Annapolis, MD: $3,513 a month against $4,107 in Alameda, CA, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Alameda, CA, United States
Annapolis, MD, United States
Alameda, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,107
/mo nomad
Annapolis, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$3,513
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alameda, CA and in Annapolis, MD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alameda, CA and in Annapolis, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,107 per month in Alameda, CA vs $3,513 in Annapolis, MD, rent included.

  • Alameda, CA $4,107
  • Annapolis, MD $3,513

A couple spends around $6,120 per month in Alameda, CA vs $4,964 in Annapolis, MD, rent included.

  • Alameda, CA $6,120
  • Annapolis, MD $4,964

A family of three spends $8,134 per month in Alameda, CA vs $6,415 in Annapolis, MD, rent included.

  • Alameda, CA $8,134
  • Annapolis, MD $6,415

Alameda, CA costs about 17% more than Annapolis, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Alameda, CA and Annapolis, MD sit above the global median – Alameda, CA by 202%, Annapolis, MD by 158%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.92 $26.92
$30.18 $30.18
-10.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$79.1 $79.1
27.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.94 $14.94
$9.89 $9.89
51.06%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$5.50 $5.50
5.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.69 $2.69
13.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.99 $1.99
32.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.08 $9.08
$6.79 $6.79
33.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.98 $9.98
$8.96 $8.96
11.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.11 $1.11
8.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.99 $2.99
19.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$5.47 $5.47
-8.96%
Eggs
$5.11 $5.11
$6.28 $6.28
-18.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 $10.99
$9.69 $9.69
13.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$7.74 $7.74
96.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.36 $22.36
$14.94 $14.94
49.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$5.82 $5.82
7.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.94 $1.94
41.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.67 $4.67
-6.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$7.32 $7.32
-7.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$4.33 $4.33
-33.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$5.01 $5.01
-33.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 $1.55
$2.71 $2.71
-42.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.62 $1.62
61.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86 $11.86
$9.81 $9.81
20.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 $14.48
$14.36 $14.36
0.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.68 $1.68
5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.69 $3.69
-3.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.07 $3.07
-4.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.4 $99.4
$99.6 $99.6
-0.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 $4.10
$3.07 $3.07
33.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.57 $1.57
27.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.11 $15.11
$29.95 $29.95
-49.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.01 $1.01
49.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$30.6K $30.6K
14.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.0K $26.0K
0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 $134
$158 $158
-15.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$52.4 $52.4
1.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$96.8 $96.8
-21.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$148 $148
$90.6 $90.6
63.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.56 $31.56
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.06 $17.06
$11.79 $11.79
44.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,462 $2,462
$1,699 $1,699
44.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.7K $19.7K
$19.4K $19.4K
1.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.07 $43.07
$42.63 $42.63
1.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.79 $36.79
$25.03 $25.03
46.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 $81.4
$90.2 $90.2
-9.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$121 $121
16.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 $2,262
$1,706 $1,706
32.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,522 $2,522
$2,041 $2,041
23.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,580 $4,580
$3,400 $3,400
34.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,439 $4,439
$3,141 $3,141
41.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,362 $7,362
$4,726 $4,726
55.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,445 $5,445
$3,299 $3,299
65.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alameda, CA
Annapolis, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,610 $6,610
$5,466 $5,466
20.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
6.08
9.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alameda, CA: October 27, 2026

Last update for Annapolis, MD: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Alameda, CA
$2.5K
Annapolis, MD
$2K 19% $480
Groceries & Markets
Alameda, CA
$461
Annapolis, MD
$394 14.5% $67
Eating Out
Alameda, CA
$418
Annapolis, MD
$408 2.4% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alameda, CA
$263
Annapolis, MD
$307 16.7% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Alameda, CA
$182
Annapolis, MD
$114 37.4% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Alameda, CA
$136
Annapolis, MD
$126 7.7% $11
Getting Around
Alameda, CA
$125
Annapolis, MD
$123 1.9% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,262 in Alameda, CA versus $1,706 in Annapolis, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Alameda, CA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Alameda, CA versus $79 in Annapolis, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $394 – making Annapolis, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Alameda, CA
🇺🇸 Annapolis, MD
🕒 Local time
10:43 10:43 AM
13:43 1:43 PM
3 h ahead of Alameda, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,624
36,408
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Alameda, CA Annapolis, MD 3,950 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Alameda, CA
  • Annapolis, MD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alameda, CA vs Annapolis, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alameda, CA and in Annapolis, MD compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,107 in Alameda, CA, $3,513 in Annapolis, MD – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.
What salary covers living expenses in Alameda, CA compared to Annapolis, MD?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,161 per month in Alameda, CA and $5,269 in Annapolis, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alameda, CA and Annapolis, MD?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Annapolis, MD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,706 there versus $2,262 in Alameda, CA.
Which city is more expensive overall: Alameda, CA or Annapolis, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,107 in Alameda, CA and $3,513 in Annapolis, MD. That’s a gap of about 17%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alameda, CA and Annapolis, MD?
Kindergarten costs $2,462 per month in Alameda, CA and $1,699 in Annapolis, MD. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,107 in Alameda, CA and $3,513 in Annapolis, MD. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Alameda, CA or Annapolis, MD?
Families tend to lean toward Annapolis, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Alameda, CA and Annapolis, MD?
If budget matters most, go with Annapolis, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alameda, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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