Howdy! Welcome to Charm City, aka "Balmer" according to locals. If you’re a newbie, use this guide to get acquainted. In Baltimore, if you don’t act like a stranger and you won’t be treated like one. However, if you’re a vet, feel free to branch out and pick a place you’ve never heard of to explore.
Wondering what to expect from rentals in Baltimore? Well, if you've ever dreamed of living in a quaint brick row-house from the 18th century, the good news is that there are lots of them
Howdy! Welcome to Charm City, aka "Balmer" according to locals. If you’re a newbie, use this guide to get acquainted. In Baltimore, if you don’t act like a stranger and you won’t be treated like one. However, if you’re a vet, feel free to branch out and pick a place you’ve never heard of to explore.
Wondering what to expect from rentals in Baltimore? Well, if you've ever dreamed of living in a quaint brick row-house from the 18th century, the good news is that there are lots of them. Though not all from colonial times, and you'll need to know the right neighborhoods, snagging one of these iconic abodes is definitely part of the appeal for many renters. Areas like Federal Hill, Fell's Point, and and Highlandtown are all known for their well-maintained row-houses.
Baltimore landlords and apartment managers typically ask for a six-month lease and a deposit to match a month’s rent. Ask about utilities and expect to pay over $100/month for A/C in the summer and the same for heat in the winter (possibly more if your place is older and uses oil: talk about “historic features”!). Finally, expect to sit on a waiting list (up to a year, at longest) if you’re interested in a rowhouse in a popular area. If you simply can’t wait, consider the (newer, if possible) apartment complexes, which boast a higher turnover rate.
Ready to learn more? Let's take a deeper dive into what it's like to rent in Baltiomore.
The following rent averages come from current listings on our website. Rent prices listed are averages and may not reflect the cost of specific units. Rental prices can vary depending on factors like size, location, amenities, and availability.
On average, expect to pay around $1,514 per month for a studio apartment in Baltimore.
The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Baltimore is approximately $1,722 per month.
In Baltimore, a 2-bedroom apartment typically rents for around $2,059 per month.
A 3-bedroom apartment in Baltimore will cost, on average, $2,220 per month.
Baltimore is definitely navigable by car, and many residents opt to drive. Additionally, biking lanes have become more popular in recent years, and the city also has a public transit system:
Many of the more desirable historic areas in Baltimore City feature apartments that have residential parking only. (Cobblestone streets have their setbacks, don’t they?) That means you’ll need a sticker ($20 annually) and you’ll have to fight for a space. All the more reason to hunt down an apartment complex with garage parking included.
Finding a pet-friendly apartment in Baltimore can feel overwhelming, but don't despair! While the city boasts a vibrant mix of cultures and energy, pet policies can vary significantly.
The good news? Major rental listing websites like Apartment List allow filtering by pet-friendliness. Simply select “Dog-Friendly” or “Cat-Friendly” in your preferences when you start your search.
Still have questions about renting in Baltimore? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions from people who are moving to the city for the first time:
As of April 2024, across all bedroom sizes (ie, the entire rental market in Baltimore), the median rent is $1,422. That ranks # 51 in the nation, among the country's 100 largest cities. We estimate you would need to earn around $60,000 a year to comfortably afford rent at that rate, which is right around the national average income as of Q4 2023.
We can use the price of renting a one-bedroom to calculate a living salary in Baltimore. Following a budgeting rule that says rent should not be more than 30% of your income, and with a median rate of $1,203 for a one-bedroom, you would need to earn around $50,000 a year in order to comfortably afford an apartment in Baltimore.
As of April 2024, the price of rent in Baltimore has risen 1.2% over the previous year, and median rent is 2.5% higher than the national. Even though rent is rising, cost of living remain low overall for a major city, which has drawn in more renters and remote workers at the same time that its economy is growing and creating new jobs. These factors are likely main contributors to the recent rise in rental rates.
Central: If you’re simply rollin’ in it and want to be able to taunt the crabs in Chesapeake Bay from your bathroom window, you won’t be satisfied with anything less than the Inner Harbor. Expect valet parking and all utilities included for $1600/month (1BR/1BA) or $1850/month (2BR/1BA). Second best in central Baltimore City is the Mount Vernon-Belvedere area. This area has an upscale (gorgeous old homes get friendly with blocks of apartments complexes), bohemian (hipster and artist central) vibe that mixes artsy quirk with higher education (JHU borders these hoods to the north). Bolton Hill is a collegiate-stunner with two universities, gilded statues, historic architecture and peaceful tree-lined streets. Lots of studios in this neighborhood, ranging from $650/month in some cases to $1100/month for all-inclusive units. Double-up and it gets even less expensive: 2BR/1BAs regularly go for less than $1000/month.
South: If you can’t afford a high rise in the Inner Harbor but need to be close to Downtown, look south. No, not that far—there, where the Ft. McHenry Tunnel hops over to Fells Point. That’s Locust Point; take a few steps to the left and you’re in West Federal Hill. These areas boast lots of working professionals, pubs and restaurants, but lack that yacht-crooning retirement crowd that too often characterizes South Baltimore in residents’ minds. You won’t pay under a thousand for anything out here, no matter how many (or few) bedrooms. But you might be able to snag a 2BR/1BA with a view for about $1600/month in Locust Point. Fed Hill will be slightly higher priced for the same.
North: On either side of Johns Hopkins University sit older, historic neighborhoods gentrified by young, artsy types. West of JH gets you into Wyman Park and the Hampden area; east are Abell and Charles Village (the even northerner expansion from North Charles). Things start to feel suburbany outside the expressway; but what one loses of urbanity, one gains in verdancy—it’s parks and greenspaces galore in north Balmer. Expect to pay a premium for the Abell experience (you’ll likely be fighting graduate students for the 1BRs, which run from $850 up to $1250/month). Hampden’s a little more doable: one can usually find both 1BR and 2BR/1BA apartments (sometimes even row homes!) for less than $1000/month. Johns Hopkins, Charles Village, Woodberry, if you actually like suburbia, check out Homeland: it’s a less creepy-feeling planned neighborhood a little farther north. Just be willing to drop at least a grand per month to drive past that fancy-pants sign to get to your 1BR.
Southeast: Second to North Baltimore for youngsters, Southeast has some fabulous neighborhoods. Fells Point is the choicest area: it would be unsurprising to pay over $1500/month for a 1BR (all utilities and parking in a garage included, of course). If you’re looking for parking anywhere besides the garage, you’re out of luck here. Thankfully, the area is fairly walkable and you can get all the perks of living in a major city: harbor views, posh nightlife, delicious food, luxury condos, chic shopping and even a charming Little Italy. If this is outside your budget, check out Brewer’s Hill or Canton, although these have less apartment complexes than rooms available in houses. Patterson Park is ideal for dog-owners and runners; 1BRs near the park start at $800/month, 2BRs go from $1250/month.
The representation of ethnic minorities in Baltimore is higher than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Baltimore are Black Or African American (59.3%), White (26.8%), Hispanic Or Latino (6%), Two Or More (4.6%), Asian (2.5%), Other (0.6%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.1%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.1%).
The representation of ethnic minorities in Baltimore is higher than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Baltimore are Black Or African American (59.3%), White (26.8%), Hispanic Or Latino (6%), Two Or More (4.6%), Asian (2.5%), Other (0.6%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.1%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.1%).
Apartment List has released the results for Baltimore from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.
These Baltimore neighborhoods are insanely popular right now! Renters are hunting down properties in these places.
Located near the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore is a beautiful port city known for its creative culture. Places like Lexington Market and Faidley’s Seafood lead the way in the local food scene, and the Baltimore Museum of Art boasts incredible contemporary pieces. It’s easy to see why the city earned the nickname "Charm City."
But Baltimore offers more than just cultural experiences. The city has a loyal sports following, with fans filling Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium to cheer on their teams. Plus, the scenic Inner Harbor has beautiful waterfront views and plenty of activities for visitors and locals alike.
If you’re ready to make the move, use Apartment List to find apartments for rent in Baltimore that are suited to your needs. Simply download the app from Google Play or the App Store and complete the Renter Quiz outlining the Baltimore apartment of your dreams.
Our powerful AI finds listings for housing in Baltimore, MD for rent according to your preferences. Filter by budget, amenities, neighborhood, and even floor plans, then review available Baltimore apartment rentals from the convenience of your phone.
Whether you're looking to rent a pet-friendly studio in Federal Hill or a luxury apartment in Fells Point, you'll be home before you know it.
The median rent in Baltimore is approximately $1,456. Depending on the floorplan, the rent for apartments in Baltimore is typically:
Baltimore rents have decreased recently but remain slightly higher than the national prices. Its median rent of $1,456 per month is similar to those in Norfolk, VA ($1,461) and Colorado Springs, CO ($1,441).
To figure out the cost of living in Baltimore, start with rent. You should budget around 30% of your salary for housing. So, to rent a one-bedroom apartment, you’d need a monthly household income of $4,853 or an annual salary of $58,240.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Baltimore, MD. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,448, roughly the same as last month. Prices remain up 3.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Baltimore rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Baltimore metro area and the nation as a whole.
The median rent in Baltimore fell by 0.5% over the course of November, and has now increased by a total of 3.1% over the past 12 months. Baltimore’s rent growth over the past year has is similar to the state average (2.3%) and has outpaced the national average (-0.6%).
Eleven months into the year, rents in Baltimore have risen 3.3%. This is a faster rate of growth compared to what the city was experiencing at this point last year: from January to November 2023 rents had increased 0.9%.
Baltimore rents went down 0.5% in the past month, compared to the national rate of -0.8%. Among the nation's 100 largest cities, this ranks #31. Similar monthly rent growth took place in Houston, TX (-0.5%) and Baton Rouge, LA (-0.5%).
Citywide, the median rent currently stands at $1,225 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $1,534 for a 2-bedroom. Across all bedroom sizes (ie, the entire rental market), the median rent is $1,448. That ranks #45 in the nation, among the country's 100 largest cities.
For comparison, the median rent across the nation as a whole is $1,214 for a 1-bedroom, $1,368 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,382 overall. The median rent in Baltimore is 4.8% higher than the national, and is similar to the prices you would find in St. Petersburg, FL ($1,452) and Norfolk, VA ($1,447).
If we expand our view to the wider Baltimore metro area, the median rent is $1,737 meaning that the median price in Baltimore proper ($1,448) is 16.6% lower than the price across the metro as a whole. Metro-wide annual rent growth stands at 2.5%, below the rate of rent growth within just the city.
The table below shows the latest rent stats for 10 cities in the Baltimore metro area that are included in our database. Among them, Odenton is currently the most expensive, with a median rent of $2,429. Baltimore is the metro’s most affordable city, with a median rent of $1,448. The metro's fastest annual rent growth is occurring in Cockeysville (5.3%) while the slowest is in Annapolis (-0.1%).
You can also use the map below to explore the latest rent trends in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Apartment List is committed to the accuracy and transparency of our rent estimates. We begin with reliable median rent statistics from the Census Bureau, then extrapolate them forward to the current month using a growth rate calculated from our listing data. In doing so, we use a same-unit analysis similar to Case-Shiller’s approach, capturing apartment transactions over time to provide an accurate picture of rent growth in cities across the country. Our approach corrects for the sample bias inherent in other private sources, producing results that are much closer to statistics published by the Census Bureau and HUD. For more details, please see the Apartment List Rent Estimate Methodology.
Apartment List publishes monthly rent reports and underlying data for hundreds of cities across the nation, as well as data aggregated for counties, metros, and states. These data are intended to be a source of reliable information that help renters and policymakers make sound decisions. Insights from our data are covered regularly by journalists across the country. To access the data yourself, please visit our Data Downloads Page.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Baltimore, MD. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,448, roughly the same as last month. Prices remain up 3.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Baltimore rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Baltimore metro area and the nation as a whole.
Apartment List has released Baltimore’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.
"Baltimore renters expressed general dissatisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "Some categories received average scores, and many received below average scores."
Key Findings in Baltimore include the following:
Renters say:
"There are lots of activities in Baltimore like sports, concerts, and museums, but the traffic and infrastructure are poor." -Kristin G.
"I love the culture of Baltimore, but the crime rate in the city needs to be addressed." -Jasmen R.
"I love the small-town feeling while still living in a city. It’s nice that it’s affordable, but there are some safety issues." -Marnie B.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Howdy! Welcome to Charm City, aka "Balmer" according to locals. If you’re a newbie, use this guide to get acquainted. In Baltimore, if you don’t act like a stranger and you won’t be treated like one. However, if you’re a vet, feel free to branch out and pick a place you’ve never heard of to explore.
Wondering what to expect from rentals in Baltimore? Well, if you've ever dreamed of living in a quaint brick row-house from the 18th century, the good news is that there are lots of them
View Baltimore City Guide
