How much does it cost to rent in Baltimore, MD?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Baltimore, MD is $1,799. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Baltimore cheaper than other Maryland cities?

Baltimore falls in the middle range for Maryland, ranking #61 out of 95 cities at $1,799/mo.

When was Baltimore rent data last updated?

Baltimore rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Irina Sitnikova / Unsplash

City Report · MD

Baltimore

Name: Average Rent Prices in Baltimore, MD
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 573,243·61st most expensive in Maryland·Baltimore rents are up 6.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,799/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$166

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Baltimore · $1,799

More affordable than 54% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

46/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% above what Baltimore's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,799/mo

Expected by trend

$1,761/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Baltimore's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,357

1 BR

$1,550

2 BR

$1,898

3 BR

$2,453

4 BR+

$2,758

Research median

$1,898/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$21,588/yr

At $1,799/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.6% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Baltimore, MD is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 36.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

573,243

Median income

$62,177

Median age

36.2

Renters

52.5%

Age distribution

20.9%

27%

24.6%

12.2%

15.3%

Under 1820.9%

18–3427%

35–5424.6%

55–6412.2%

65+15.3%

Gender

46.5%

53.5%

Male46.5%

Female53.5%

Race & ethnicity

26.9%

59.2%

White26.9%

Black59.2%

Hispanic8.2%

Asian2.6%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

12.3%

27.7%

23.8%

36.1%

No HS diploma12.3%

HS diploma27.7%

Some college23.8%

Bachelor's+36.1%

Housing tenure

47.5%

52.5%

Owner47.5%

Renter52.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,369 → $1,799

up 31.4%

Income

$54,124 → $62,177

up 14.9%

Population

592,211 → 573,243

down 3.2%

Renter share

52.1% → 52.5%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

34.2% → 36.1%

+1.9 pts

Median age

35.7 → 36.2

+0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Baltimore, MD has climbed by $430 per month, settling near $1,799 after starting the period at $1,369. Median household income grew from $54,124 to $62,177 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 16.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 592,211 to 573,243 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change. Taken together, the five-year picture in Baltimore, MD reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Baltimore

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View Baltimore rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Baltimore on your salary?

At $1,799/mo, how Baltimore rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 21.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 29.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 25.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 14.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 11.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 31.8% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 35.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

By apartment size

Baltimore rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Baltimore. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Baltimore

About renting in Baltimore, MD

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Baltimore is $1,799/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,357/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,898/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,550/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,453/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($62,177/yr), Baltimore ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Baltimore an affordable city for renters?

Baltimore is considered moderate for renters. At $1,799/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($62,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Baltimore slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Baltimore?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,799/mo in Baltimore. The local median household income is $62,177/yr, meaning the typical Baltimore household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Baltimore?

Rent in Baltimore has increased 6.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Baltimore neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Baltimore are 21218 ($1,391/mo), 21215 ($1,405/mo), and 21214 ($1,426/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Baltimore is $1,799/mo.

How does Baltimore rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Baltimore is middle-of-the-pack for Maryland for rent, ranking #61 out of 95 tracked cities at $1,799/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Baltimore?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Baltimore ($1,799/mo): Lochearn ($1,411/mo), Parkville ($1,624/mo), Brooklyn Park ($1,700/mo).

What percentage of Baltimore residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.5% of Baltimore households are renters, while 47.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Baltimore has a strong rental market.

How does Baltimore rent compare to the national average?

Baltimore's median rent of $1,799/mo is $166 (8%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Maryland, it ranks #61 out of 95 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $1,799/mo, rent takes ~35% of Baltimore's median household income ($62,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Baltimore 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Baltimore affordability calculator →

Nearby cities