Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Baltimore, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Baltimore, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Foster City, CA is 2.5% more expensive than Baltimore, MD without rent, and 50.4% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Foster City, CA is 14% cheaper than Baltimore, MD without rent, and 42.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.79 $14.79
$19.73 $19.73
-25.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 $71.1
$78.8 $78.8
-9.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 $11.04
$10.02 $10.02
10.18%
Cappuccino
$4.87 $4.87
$4.96 $4.96
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.32 $2.32
37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.11 $2.11
16.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.80 $8.80
$6.16 $6.16
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.98 $10.98
$7.48 $7.48
46.79%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.01 $1.01
3.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.81 $3.81
-13.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.56 $4.56
-52.63%
Eggs
$3.02 $3.02
$4.41 $4.41
-31.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.58 $16.58
$13.58 $13.58
22.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.91 $10.91
$9.75 $9.75
11.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.19 $20.19
$16.23 $16.23
24.40%
Apples (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.93 $6.93
-11.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.64 $1.64
55.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$6.97 $6.97
-28.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$5.51 $5.51
-39.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.72 $2.72
19.49%
Onion (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.94 $2.94
51.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.41 $2.41
26.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.77 $2.77
-47.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31 $11.31
$12.59 $12.59
-10.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$15.58 $15.58
-3.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.27 $2.27
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.09 $4.09
-15.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.54 $2.54
51.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$191 $191
$78.2 $78.2
144.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.84 $1.84
94.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.40 $1.40
38.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.50 $30.50
$23.84 $23.84
27.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.90 $0.90
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$25.2K $25.2K
18.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$25.6K $25.6K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$169 $169
57.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.52 $48.52
$57.0 $57.0
-14.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$81.0 $81.0
-14.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.82 $43.82
$57.3 $57.3
-23.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.75 $29.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.79 $15.79
$15.06 $15.06
4.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,950 $1,950
$1,270 $1,270
53.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K $25.6K
$33.0K $33.0K
-22.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.00 $46.00
$52.2 $52.2
-11.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.14 $30.14
$73.3 $73.3
-58.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 $67.4
$85.0 $85.0
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7 $50.7
$114 $114
-55.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,024 $3,024
$1,873 $1,873
61.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,640 $2,640
$1,350 $1,350
95.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,581 $4,581
$3,297 $3,297
38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,563 $4,563
$2,223 $2,223
105.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,734 $2,734
$2,431 $2,431
12.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,324 $2,324
$2,298 $2,298
1.13%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Foster City, CA
Baltimore, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,125 $7,125
$4,208 $4,208
69.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.59
-1.21%

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

Last update for Foster City, CA: March 2, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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