Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 38% 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.

El Paso, TX
Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,658
+135% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,418
+74% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,661
+67% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,863
+49% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$365,200
+113% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$95,150
+62% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$71,060
+80% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
37.1 yr
+3.0 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
60.2%
59.2%
+1.0 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
41.8%
+14.3 pp in Frederick, MD
Avg Commute
23.7 min
30.1 min
+6.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
406
+27% in Frederick, MD
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,696.3
+12% in Frederick, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.6°F
52.1°F
+12.5°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 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)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
21.8
+32% in Frederick, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$18.94
+38% in El Paso, TX

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 (TX / MD)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.50%
+6.5 pp in MD

El Paso vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Frederick?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Frederick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Frederick?
El Paso 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).