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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,121 in Foster City, CA versus $2,733 in Baltimore, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,886 in Foster City, CA versus $4,001 in Baltimore, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,650 in Foster City, CA versus $5,268 in Baltimore, MD.

Living in Foster City, CA is roughly 51% more expensive than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Foster City, CA 208% above, Baltimore, MD 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$20.24 $20.24

-25.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 $70.9

$81.2 $81.2

-12.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 $10.87

$10.05 $10.05

8.16%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.14 $5.14

-0.58%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.38 $2.38

35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.22 $2.22

7.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.20 $9.20

$6.12 $6.12

50.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.83 $10.83

$7.58 $7.58

42.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.85 $3.85

-15.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$4.52 $4.52

-50.66%

Eggs

$3.04 $3.04

$4.39 $4.39

-30.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$13.53 $13.53

23.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$10.22 $10.22

8.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.74 $19.74

$16.36 $16.36

20.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.92 $6.92

-10.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.56 $1.56

55.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$7.09 $7.09

-29.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.31 $5.31

-36.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.71 $2.71

21.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.02 $3.02

47.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.46 $2.46

21.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.65 $2.65

-44.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.46 $11.46

$12.68 $12.68

-9.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$14.90 $14.90

1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.06 $4.06

-16.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.56 $2.56

50.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$193 $193

$78.4 $78.4

146.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.76 $1.76

94.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.35 $1.35

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.04 $30.04

$24.23 $24.23

23.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.86 $0.86

53.49%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

19.05%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.42%

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

$275 $275

$171 $171

60.55%

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

$48.79 $48.79

$55.8 $55.8

-12.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$79.2 $79.2

-12.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.72 $43.72

$56.5 $56.5

-22.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.75 $29.75

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 $15.23

$15.11 $15.11

0.79%

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

$1,969 $1,969

$1,253 $1,253

57.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.1K $26.1K

$33.9K $33.9K

-22.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.14 $46.14

$51.0 $51.0

-9.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.14 $30.14

$72.9 $72.9

-58.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 $66.2

$85.7 $85.7

-22.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.9 $50.9

$109 $109

-53.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,957 $2,957

$1,848 $1,848

60.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$1,314 $1,314

97.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,572 $4,572

$3,303 $3,303

38.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,444 $4,444

$2,205 $2,205

101.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$2,517 $2,517

7.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,380 $2,380

$2,279 $2,279

4.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,251 $7,251

$4,208 $4,208

72.30%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,957 in Foster City, CA and $1,848 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Foster City, CA pays 72% 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: $71 in Foster City, CA vs $81 in Baltimore, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $429 per month, with Foster City, CA 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

Foster City, CA vs Baltimore, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Foster City, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baltimore, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Foster City, CA pays 72% 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: $2,957 in Foster City, CA versus $1,848 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Foster City, CA pay roughly 5% 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 $71.0 in Foster City, 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 work as nomad bases, but Baltimore, MD delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,733 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baltimore, MD hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Foster City, CA and Baltimore, MD 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 51% less than in Foster City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.