Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Jersey City?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $74,000 in Jersey City.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Jersey City?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Jersey City Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,650 in Frederick, MD versus $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Jersey City, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,949

+18% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,853

+31% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,857

+12% in Jersey City, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$2,004

+8% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$534,500

+46% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$94,813

+0% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$61,430

+14% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

34.7 yr

+2.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

28.8%

+30.4 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

53.1%

+11.3 pp in Jersey City, NJ

Avg Commute

30.1 min

36.9 min

+6.8 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

562.9

+39% in Jersey City, NJ

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,036.4

+20% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

55.0°F

+2.9°F in Jersey City, NJ

Annual Precipitation

—

49.9 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

24.9

+14% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.57

$17.68

+22% in Frederick, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Jersey City, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Jersey City, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Jersey City, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Jersey City, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NJ)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

10.75%

+4.3 pp in NJ

Frederick vs Jersey City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Jersey City?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Jersey City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $74,000 in Jersey City.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Jersey City?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).