Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and San Clemente, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and San Clemente, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,387 in San Clemente, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,041 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,908 in San Clemente, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,429 in Baltimore, MD versus $6,429 in San Clemente, CA.

Living in Baltimore, MD costs roughly 22% less than in San Clemente, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 98% above, San Clemente, CA 153% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$23.33 $23.33

-15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$100 $100

-19.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$15.18 $15.18

-33.20%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$4.86 $4.86

1.65%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$3.07 $3.07

-24.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.51 $2.51

-11.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.99 $6.99

-15.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$8.09 $8.09

-5.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.36 $4.36

-13.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.42 $4.42

4.30%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$3.94 $3.94

12.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$13.57 $13.57

-2.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 $9.77

$12.62 $12.62

-22.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$18.56 $18.56

-12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$4.71 $4.71

45.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$3.91 $3.91

80.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.65 $4.65

13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.96 $2.96

-8.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.45 $2.45

23.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.25 $2.25

7.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.49 $2.49

11.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.70 $12.70

$7.55 $7.55

68.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.03 $15.03

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.84 $1.84

28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.43 $2.43

67.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.77 $2.77

-8.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

$47.31 $47.31

60.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.96 $2.96

-39.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.69 $1.69

-20.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.93 $23.93

$27.74 $27.74

-13.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.29 $1.29

-30.23%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$28.5K $28.5K

-10.37%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.3K $27.3K

-4.21%

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

$174 $174

$250 $250

-30.33%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$67.5 $67.5

-14.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 $80.1

$78.9 $78.9

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 $56.7

$44.76 $44.76

26.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.13 $30.13

$17.24 $17.24

74.77%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.80 $14.80

2.03%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$1,017 $1,017

27.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K $34.0K

$28.9K $28.9K

17.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$58.9 $58.9

-13.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 $73.6

$30.33 $30.33

142.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$90.0 $90.0

-5.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$114 $114

-2.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$2,314 $2,314

-18.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,916 $1,916

-30.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,284 $3,284

$4,085 $4,085

-19.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,274 $2,274

$3,227 $3,227

-29.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,450 $2,450

$6,361 $6,361

-61.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$3,183 $3,183

-26.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,227 $4,227

$4,072 $4,072

3.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

31.80%

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

Last update for Baltimore, MD: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Clemente, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Baltimore, MD and $2,314 in San Clemente, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 4% 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 $100 in San Clemente, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $417, with San Clemente, CA 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 San Clemente, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in San Clemente, CA. 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 4% 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 $2,314 in San Clemente, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Clemente, CA pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Baltimore, MD – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $100 in San Clemente, CA. 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 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.

Safety-wise, Baltimore, MD and San Clemente, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in San Clemente, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.