Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Bethlehem, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,748 in Bethlehem, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,041 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,864 in Bethlehem, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,429 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,980 in Bethlehem, PA.

Living in Baltimore, MD costs roughly 3% less than in Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 98% above, Bethlehem, PA 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$18.31 $18.31

7.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$50.3 $50.3

60.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$13.21 $13.21

-23.24%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$5.09 $5.09

-2.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.92 $2.92

-20.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.92 $1.92

15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.27 $5.27

12.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.90 $7.90

-3.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.10 $4.10

-7.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.42 $4.42

4.30%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.16 $4.16

6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$12.28 $12.28

8.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 $9.77

$17.13 $17.13

-42.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$21.89 $21.89

-26.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$11.69 $11.69

-41.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.36 $1.36

16.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$4.38 $4.38

61.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$7.30 $7.30

-27.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$5.40 $5.40

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.87 $2.87

5.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.72 $2.72

-11.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.84 $1.84

50.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.70 $12.70

$9.97 $9.97

27.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.14 $16.14

-6.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$4.33 $4.33

-45.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.31 $5.31

-23.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

$61.0 $61.0

24.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.48 $3.48

-48.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.65 $1.65

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.93 $23.93

$28.94 $28.94

-17.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.89 $0.89

1.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.0K $29.0K

-11.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 $174

$223 $223

-22.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.9 $57.9

$63.4 $63.4

-8.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 $80.1

$62.1 $62.1

29.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 $56.7

$36.41 $36.41

55.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.13 $30.13

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.94 $14.94

1.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$1,005 $1,005

29.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K $34.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

45.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$55.8 $55.8

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 $73.6

$30.52 $30.52

141.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$66.4 $66.4

27.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$78.9 $78.9

40.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,481 $1,481

27.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,313 $1,313

1.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,284 $3,284

$2,126 $2,126

54.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,274 $2,274

$1,978 $1,978

15.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,450 $2,450

$2,112 $2,112

16.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$2,165 $2,165

8.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,227 $4,227

$3,574 $3,574

18.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.62

-0.45%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Baltimore, MD and $1,481 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $514, with Baltimore, MD cheaper for home cooking.

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

Baltimore, MD vs Bethlehem, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Bethlehem, PA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baltimore, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baltimore, MD pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,882 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,481 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Bethlehem, PA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Baltimore, MD – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Baltimore, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baltimore, MD delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,653 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baltimore, MD hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Bethlehem, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.