Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Frederick?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $57,000 in Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Frederick?

Austin 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).

Austin vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 4% 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.

Austin, TX

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,658

+23% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,418

+3% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,661

+6% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,863

+12% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$365,200

+29% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$95,150

+4% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$71,060

+25% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

37.1 yr

+2.6 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

44.4%

59.2%

+14.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

41.8%

+16.4 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

30.1 min

+6.1 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

406

+15% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,696.3

+48% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

52.1°F

+15.1°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 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)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

21.8

+32% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$18.94

+38% in Austin, 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

Austin vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Frederick?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Frederick?: Austin 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).