Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 31% higher in Frederick, MD. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,658
+64% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,418
+34% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,661
+30% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,863
+36% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$365,200
+56% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$95,150
+46% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$71,060
+38% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.1 yr
+4.1 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
44.3%
59.2%
+14.9 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
41.8%
+3.6 pp in Frederick, MD
Avg Commute
21.8 min
30.1 min
+8.3 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
406
+16% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
1,696.3
+45% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
52.1°F
+0.6°F in Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.86/gal
+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
21.8
+12% in Frederick, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$18.94
+17% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Columbus, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Frederick, MD
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MD)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.50%
+3.8 pp in MD

Columbus vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Frederick?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Frederick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Frederick?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).