Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Little Rock?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Little Rock?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $36,000 in Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Little Rock?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 36% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$981

+41% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$904

+36% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,064

+36% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,292

+31% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$221,200

+39% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$60,583

+36% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$45,790

+36% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

36.4 yr

+0.7 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

54.2%

+5.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

44.0%

+2.2 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

30.1 min

18.3 min

+11.8 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

1,673

+312% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

1,696.3

5,251.5

+210% in Little Rock, AR

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

62.7°F

+10.6°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

—

49.8 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Frederick, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

14.4

+34% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$25.93

+37% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

3.90%

+2.6 pp in MD

Frederick vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Little Rock?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Little Rock?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).