Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Kansas City?

Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $41,000 in Kansas City.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Kansas City?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Kansas City Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,640 in Frederick, MD versus $1,200 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 29% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Kansas City, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$961

+42% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,031

+27% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,211

+27% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,381

+26% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$227,000

+38% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$67,449

+29% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$50,820

+28% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

54.6%

+4.6 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

37.8%

+4.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

21.9 min

+8.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

1,557.1

+284% in Kansas City, MO

Property Crime

1,696.3

4,722.1

+178% in Kansas City, MO

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

56.7°F

+4.6°F in Kansas City, MO

Annual Precipitation

—

39.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Kansas City, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

13.7

+37% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$24.13

+27% in Kansas City, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Kansas City, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Kansas City, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Kansas City, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Kansas City, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MO)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

4.70%

+1.8 pp in MD

Frederick vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Kansas City?: Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Kansas City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Kansas City?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).