Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 37% higher in Frederick, MD. Both cities are in Maryland, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,658
+58% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,418
+32% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,661
+23% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,863
+20% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$365,200
+67% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$95,150
+60% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$71,060
+20% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.1 yr
+1.0 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
59.2%
+11.7 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
41.8%
+6.4 pp in Frederick, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
30.1 min
+0.7 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
406
+75% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
1,696.3
+60% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
52.1°F
+9.3°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
21.8
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$18.94
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MD)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
6.50%
about equal

Baltimore vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Frederick?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Frederick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Frederick?
Neither — both are in Maryland, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).