Rent vs buy in Baltimore, MD

In Baltimore, Maryland, typical rent is $1,762 /mo and a typical home costs $184,804.

Buy

Buying comes out ahead by $54k over 7 years

Based on Baltimore's typical rent and home value, the figures use 20% down and today's mortgage interest rate. Break-even arrives in year 3.

This clearly labeled opinion shows the math. The figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.

Home ownership is ahead by: $54k
When costs match: Year 3
Actual cost of owning: $1,748 each month

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Baltimore's typical rent and home value drive the stamp. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.

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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Baltimore?

Over 7 years, buying costs $54,103 less once you include the money you get back when you sell. In year 3, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.

Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.

Average Baltimore rent vs mortgage payment

Rent and mortgage payments don't tell you everything. At Baltimore's typical price, these are all monthly costs in year 1.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$1,762	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$1,008	$888 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$225	1.46% of the value a year
Insurance	$104	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$154	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$1,490	$119 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$300	At 8.3% a year, this is the return the cash would earn.
Buying costs, spread out	$77	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$1,748	Take out the equity part from cash out, then add the two lines above.

Baltimore numbers behind the verdict

Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026: $184,804
Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026: $1,762 /mo
Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model: 20%
Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
Home price growthFHFA house price index, Maryland, 1995 to 2025: 4.1% a year
Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026: 3.5% a year
Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025: 8.3% a year
Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Baltimore: 1.46% of value
Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Baltimore: $104 /mo
MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%: 1% of value a year
Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%: 3.5% of price
Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs: 6% of price

What would reverse the verdict in Baltimore?

For Baltimore, each line shows where the 7-year verdict switches, while everything else remains as it is.

Renting wins if

Annual home price growth stays below -0.2%; we use Maryland's long-run rate of 4.1%.
The mortgage rate remains over 12.37%.
For a home like this, monthly rent is under $1,180 (typical here: $1,762).
Moving happens before year 3.

When buying wins

Home price growth exceeds -0.2% a year.
Today's rate is 7.24%, and the rate you lock is below 12.37%.
For the same home, your monthly rent would be more than $1,180.
You remain in the home for 3 years or longer.

Baltimore compared with the other 812 cities

Measure	Baltimore	Median city
Typical home value	$184,804	$422,451
Typical rent	$1,762 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	8.7 (#802 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	4.9% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	4% a year	4% a year
Property tax	1.46%	0.87%
Households that rent	52%	42%

Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

Other Maryland cities

Rent. In Frederick, MD, renting wins by $50k.
Rent. In Gaithersburg, MD, renting wins by $65k.
Rent. In Rockville, MD, renting wins by $91k.
Rent. In Bowie, MD, renting wins by $50k.

Maryland rent vs buy figures