CostIndexUSA

Baltimore, MD vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MD
Baltimore
104.5
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Huntsville is moderately cheaper than Baltimore — 10.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baltimore, you would need $71,300 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing34.1%
Baltimore
118.2
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries5.9%
Baltimore
102.4
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation4.8%
Baltimore
106.6
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare4.7%
Baltimore
96.4
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities23.9%
Baltimore
110.2
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baltimore to see what you'd need to earn in Huntsville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$71,300
$8,700 less needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 104.5) = salary × 0.8909. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Home Price
$391,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
118.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Baltimore has 34.1% lower housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Household Income
$94,300
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
585,708
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentFinanceEducationManufacturing

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baltimore, MD
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.