Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Frederick?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Frederick?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Frederick?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 23% higher in Frederick, MD. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,658

+52% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,418

+20% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,661

+18% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,863

+2% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$365,200

+32% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$95,150

+29% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$71,060

+38% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

37.1 yr

+3.5 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

54.8%

59.2%

+4.4 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

41.8%

+8.7 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

26.7 min

30.1 min

+3.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

406

+18% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

1,696.3

+30% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

52.1°F

+13.3°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Frederick, MD

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

21.8

+32% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$18.94

+38% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MD)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.50%

+6.5 pp in MD

Arlington vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Frederick?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Frederick?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).