Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Newport News, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Newport News, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,638 in Newport News, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,041 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,014 in Newport News, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,429 in Baltimore, MD versus $5,390 in Newport News, VA.

Living in Baltimore, MD is roughly 1% more expensive than Newport News, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 98% above, Newport News, VA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$27.59 $27.59

-28.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$62.6 $62.6

28.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$10.43 $10.43

-2.78%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$5.84 $5.84

-15.41%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$3.01 $3.01

-22.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.25 $2.25

-1.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.93 $4.93

20.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.58 $7.58

0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.06 $1.06

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.80 $3.80

-0.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.86 $2.86

61.19%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$2.87 $2.87

55.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$9.29 $9.29

42.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 $9.77

$15.19 $15.19

-35.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$19.32 $19.32

-16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$6.30 $6.30

8.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.02 $1.02

54.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.09 $5.09

38.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.18 $4.18

26.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.69 $2.69

0.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.16 $3.16

-4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.07 $2.07

16.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.57 $2.57

7.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.70 $12.70

$8.10 $8.10

56.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.07 $16.07

-6.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.78 $1.78

32.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.60 $4.60

-11.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.56 $2.56

-1.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

$55.9 $55.9

35.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 $1.78

$4.01 $4.01

-55.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.33 $1.33

1.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.93 $23.93

$29.55 $29.55

-19.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.81 $0.81

11.11%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.82%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.90%

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

$174 $174

$208 $208

-16.55%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$59.5 $59.5

-2.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 $80.1

$66.9 $66.9

19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 $56.7

$40.41 $40.41

40.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.13 $30.13

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$13.76 $13.76

9.74%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$2,637 $2,637

-50.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K $34.0K

$40.7K $40.7K

-16.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$42.75 $42.75

18.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 $73.6

$50.8 $50.8

44.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$104 $104

-18.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$105 $105

5.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,410 $1,410

33.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,227 $1,227

8.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,284 $3,284

$2,300 $2,300

42.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,274 $2,274

$2,255 $2,255

0.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,450 $2,450

$2,274 $2,274

7.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$2,269 $2,269

3.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,227 $4,227

$3,893 $3,893

8.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.45

2.17%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: June 2, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Baltimore, MD and $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $63.0 in Newport News, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 vs $416 per month, with Newport News, VA cheaper across the board.

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 Newport News, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baltimore, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Newport News, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baltimore, MD pays 9% 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 $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Baltimore, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Newport News, VA – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $81.0 in Baltimore, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,638 in Newport News, VA versus $2,653 in Baltimore, MD, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Newport News, VA but tight or insufficient in Baltimore, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Newport News, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Newport News, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baltimore, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.