Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,650 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 25% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,658
+26% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,418
+43% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,661
+44% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,863
+44% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$365,200
+65% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$95,150
+25% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$71,060
+7% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
37.1 yr
+6.6 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
33.7%
59.2%
+25.5 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
41.8%
+38.4 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
30.1 min
+4.0 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
406
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,696.3
+36% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
52.1°F
+0.6°F in Frederick, MD
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
21.8
+26% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$22.57
+26% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Frederick, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / MD)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
6.50%
+2.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Frederick?
Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Frederick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Frederick?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).