Budget · Baltimore · United States
Baltimore on a budget
What a trip to Baltimore really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Midnightdreary, Public domain
Quick answer
Baltimore is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $90–$140 per person per day on a tight budget, $200–$320 mid-range and $450–$900 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $90–$140 a day
- Mid-range
- $200–$320 a day
- Luxury
- $450–$900 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 6
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $90–$140 | $270–$420 | $450–$700 | $630–$980 |
| Mid-range | $200–$320 | $600–$960 | $1,000–$1,600 | $1,400–$2,240 |
| Luxury | $450–$900 | $1,350–$2,700 | $2,250–$4,500 | $3,150–$6,300 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Baltimore, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Light rail or bus fare | about $2 |
| Crab cake sandwich | about $20–$35 |
| Dozen steamed crabs | about $60–$150, by size |
| Pit beef sandwich | about $10–$15 |
| National Aquarium ticket | about $45–$60 |
| Fort McHenry entry | about $15 |
| Mid-range dinner, before tip | about $40–$70 per person |
| Downtown hotel parking, per night | about $25–$45 |
Money-saving tips
- The Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters, the Basilica, Federal Hill Park and the harbour promenade are free.
- Take the Light RailLink from BWI for a couple of dollars instead of a taxi.
- Crab prices fall when local catches are plentiful in late summer and early autumn; ask about all-you-can-eat crab nights.
- Hotels near the Inner Harbor rise sharply on Orioles, Ravens and convention weekends; Mount Vernon and Charles Village are often cheaper.
- A water taxi day pass works as a harbour cruise and transport in one.
Free things to do
- Baltimore Museum of Art — The BMA's free collection is centred on the Cone Collection assembled by sisters Claribel and Etta Cone, with hundreds of works by Henri Matisse alongside Picasso, Cézanne and Van Gogh.
- Federal Hill Park — A steep grassy hill above the south shore of the Inner Harbor gives a panoramic view of the skyline, the aquarium and the boats below.
- Walters Art Museum — The Walters family's free museum spans 7,000 years, from Egyptian mummies and Roman sarcophagi to medieval armour, illuminated manuscripts, two Fabergé eggs and 19th-century French painting.
- Fells Point waterfront — Belgian-block streets and Thames Street's 18th- and 19th-century buildings line the old shipbuilding waterfront, with pubs, shops and seafood restaurants around the Broadway Square and the Broadway Market.
- Baltimore Basilica — Designed by Benjamin Latrobe, architect of the US Capitol, and completed in 1821, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption was the first great Catholic cathedral built in the United States.
- Hampden and 36th Street — Hampden's main street, known as The Avenue, has vintage shops, independent boutiques, diners and bars in old mill-worker row houses.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, quiet stays and budget
Canton
Row houses, a waterfront park and pubs around O'Donnell Square
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Federal Hill
Hilltop park views over the harbour and a busy bar scene on Cross Street
$$ · Best for culture, couples and quiet stays
Mount Vernon
Grand 19th-century squares around the Washington Monument
Eating well for less
- Pit beef — Roadside stands along Pulaski Highway east of the city, and at Camden Yards on game days.
- Lake trout — Carry-out shops in West and East Baltimore; ask for it with hot sauce and onions.
- Coddies — Old-school delis and taverns, and occasional specials at Lexington Market.
Getting around for less
MTA day pass
Unlimited rides on light rail, subway and local buses for a day, sold at machines and in the CharmPass app.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Baltimore cost?
About $1,000–$1,600 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $450–$700 on a tight budget.
+Is Baltimore expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. The Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters, the Basilica, Federal Hill Park and the harbour promenade are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Baltimore?
Roughly $90–$140 on a budget and $200–$320 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Baltimore?
Usually in January–February.