San Diego - CA vs Baltimore - MD: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

San Diego - CA is roughly 134% more expensive than Baltimore - MD in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in San Diego - CA (25 days vs 16), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

San Diego vs Baltimore: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $5,054 a month in principal and interest in San Diego and $2,164 in Baltimore, a gap of $2,890 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,967 in San Diego and $1,937 in Baltimore, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.7 times rent in San Diego and 1.1 times rent in Baltimore, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.0 years of rent in San Diego and 17.1 in Baltimore; the lower ratio in Baltimore means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -1.8% in San Diego and +2.2% in Baltimore; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in San Diego and -0.1% in Baltimore.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in San Diego and 100.1% in Baltimore, after 25 and 16 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: San Diego has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Baltimore has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is down 6% on a year ago in San Diego and up 11% on a year ago in Baltimore.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.