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: $2,460 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,673 in Bethlehem, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,792 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,810 in Bethlehem, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,124 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,946 in Bethlehem, PA.

Living in Baltimore, MD costs roughly 8% less than in Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 79% above, Bethlehem, PA 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.79 $18.79

$18.27 $18.27

2.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.7 $91.7

$50.3 $50.3

82.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$12.83 $12.83

-15.04%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.28 $5.28

-2.27%

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

$3.56 $3.56

$2.97 $2.97

19.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.89 $1.89

41.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.40 $5.40

25.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.14 $8.14

-0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.18 $1.18

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.95 $3.95

-8.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.22 $4.22

-3.79%

Eggs

$5.09 $5.09

$4.16 $4.16

22.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$11.91 $11.91

8.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.37 $12.37

$16.19 $16.19

-23.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.63 $18.63

$18.43 $18.43

1.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$12.73 $12.73

-54.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.67 $1.67

-12.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$6.01 $6.01

-2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$7.48 $7.48

-36.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$5.59 $5.59

-46.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.05 $3.05

-9.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.81 $2.81

-10.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.84 $1.84

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.55 $9.55

48.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.34 $15.34

$17.71 $17.71

-13.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.93 $1.93

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.35 $3.35

11.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.15 $3.15

-42.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.82 $1.82

-26.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.97 $23.97

$29.71 $29.71

-19.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.03 $1.03

-0.97%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$37.7K $37.7K

-3.30%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.40%

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

$211 $211

$203 $203

3.83%

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

$66.4 $66.4

$64.0 $64.0

3.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.7 $88.7

$77.1 $77.1

15.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.4 $51.4

$36.23 $36.23

41.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.67 $46.67

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$15.16 $15.16

0.66%

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

$1,983 $1,983

$997 $997

98.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K $34.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

36.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$53.5 $53.5

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 $63.1

$30.02 $30.02

110.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$68.0 $68.0

33.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$83.6 $83.6

34.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 $1,685

$1,519 $1,519

10.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 $1,052

$1,359 $1,359

-22.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$2,186 $2,186

1.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$2,105 $2,105

-8.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,498 $2,498

$2,096 $2,096

19.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,297 $2,297

$2,128 $2,128

7.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,468 $4,468

$3,488 $3,488

28.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.5

-3.69%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,685 in Baltimore, MD and $1,519 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $92.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $428 vs $500, 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 9% 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.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Baltimore, MD, 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: $1,685 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,519 in Bethlehem, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Bethlehem, PA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,460 per month in Baltimore, MD versus $2,673 in Bethlehem, PA – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 $2,460 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 9% less than in Bethlehem, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.