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Baltimore
#31 of 124
North America

Baltimore

MD, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Baltimore compare to Santiago?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Baltimore is 70% better off vs in Santiago

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Baltimore compared to Santiago, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$120,000
+$87K (+258%) vs Santiago
Based on 210 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$79,680
+$55K (+224%) vs Santiago
Tax Rate: 34%

Community Insights

New

Baltimore offers a high-value proposition for software engineers who are priced out of other East Coast hubs but still crave an urban lifestyle. The city is defined by its "grit and charm," offering a low cost of living that allows tech workers to purchase homes—a rarity in the Northeast corridor. While the local tech scene is specialized (heavy on MedTech and defense), the real unlock for many engineers is the MARC train connection to Washington D.C., allowing for a high-salary hybrid lifestyle.

However, the low safety index (#121) is a reality that dictates daily life; residents emphasize that safety is highly block-by-block. Those who thrive here embrace the city's rougher edges in exchange for its rich culture, lack of pretension, and strong community feel.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment among transplants is largely protective and proud, often adopting the "Charm City" moniker with genuine affection. Most residents freely admit the city's flaws (crime, litter, city services) but argue that the community spirit, arts scene, and affordability outweigh them.

Regret is rare among those who researched their neighborhoods carefully (sticking to the "White L" areas like Canton or Federal Hill), but common among those who moved blindly or expected a sanitized, high-efficiency city experience. The consensus is that Baltimore is "what you make of it"—it requires more effort to love than other cities, but the reward is a deeply loyal community.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Santiago.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

≈2.3 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

66/100 weather score

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Baltimore compared to Santiago?

Avg. Property Price
$2,260 / m²
19% cheaper than Santiago
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Baltimore to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
90% more expensive than Santiago
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Baltimore

Amazon logo
Amazon
Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Cisco logo
Cisco

The Good

  • Affordability: Residents frequently cite the ability to buy a rowhome in a trendy neighborhood for a fraction of the cost of DC or NYC (aligned with #7 Housing Affordability rank).
  • DC Job Market Access: Many software engineers live in Baltimore and work hybrid roles in DC, utilizing the MARC train for an easy commute while earning higher DC-tier salaries.
  • Niche Tech Hub: The local tech scene is growing, specifically in predictive healthcare, BioTech, and EdTech, anchored by institutions like Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland.
  • Neighborhood Character: Areas like Fells Point, Canton, Hampden, and Mount Vernon offer distinct, walkable, and vibrant atmospheres with unique local businesses rather than chains.
  • Social Vibe: Transplants often describe the city as "Smalltimore" because it is surprisingly easy to make friends and run into people you know; the social scene is less pretentious than DC.

The Bad

  • Crime & Safety: This is the most discussed drawback; residents stress the need for "street smarts" and warn about property crime (e.g., car break-ins are common if anything is left visible).
  • Infrastructure Issues: Complaints about potholes, trash collection, and aging water infrastructure are common in resident threads.
  • City Taxes: Despite the lower cost of living, residents often complain about the property tax rate being significantly higher than in the surrounding suburbs, sometimes feeling the services don't match the cost.
  • Public Transit Gaps: While the MARC train to DC is praised, intra-city transit (buses, light rail) is frequently described as unreliable or limited, making a car often necessary for getting around the city itself.
  • Segregation: The "White L" and "Black Butterfly" concept is frequently mentioned, highlighting the stark economic and safety disparities between different parts of the city.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Hybrid DC Workers: Engineers who only need to commute 1-3 days a week to DC can significantly upgrade their lifestyle and savings rate by living here.

Niche Tech Specialists: Professionals in BioTech, HealthTech, or government contracting will find a robust local job market anchored by major research institutions.

Value-Seekers: Those who want walkable, historic urban neighborhoods with thriving food and art scenes but refuse to pay NYC or Boston prices.

Skip it if...

Safety-Anxious Individuals: If reading crime statistics or seeing grit (trash, abandoned buildings) on a daily basis causes you high stress, Baltimore will be difficult.

Public Transit Dependents: If you expect to live a car-free life comparable to NYC or London, you will struggle with the limited intra-city transit options.

Generic "Big Tech" Chasers: If your goal is working for a local FAANG office, options are limited compared to major hubs; the scene here is more startup and institutional.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather6.6/10-22% vs Santiago
Safety28-22%
Pollution52-26%
Events0
6.6/10TechCities weather score vs 8.5/10 in Santiago

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
19°C(vs 23°C in Santiago)
Average Low
11°C(vs 8°C in Santiago)
Sunshine Hours
2,582h/yr-226h/yr(-8%)
Hottest Month High
31°C(vs 30°C in Santiago)
Coldest Month Low
-1°C(vs 3°C in Santiago)
Rainy Days
97/yr+65/yr(+205%)

Community & Quality

Baltimore community pulse

Baltimore has 0 Luma events listed.

Santiago has no listed Luma events for comparison.

Net Income

Top 33%

#41

of 124 cities

$79,680/yr

Current value

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#73

of 124 cities

56/100

Current value (lower is better)

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#74

of 124 cities

52/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#76

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Tax Rate

Bottom 33%

#84

of 124 cities

34%

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Bottom 3%

#121

of 124 cities

27.9/100

Current value

SWE Affordability
2.3 years
6.8 years quicker than Santiago
Muggy Days
54/yr+54/yr(+Infinity%)
Cloud Cover
45%(vs 30% in Santiago)