Living Cost Compare
Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 42% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,658
$953
+43% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,019
+28% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,661
$1,287
+23% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,863
$1,392
+25% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$365,200
$296,400
+19% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$95,150
$55,339
+42% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060
$47,290
+33% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.1 yr
38.4 yr
+1.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
59.2%
50.5%
+8.7 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.8%
42.0%
+0.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
30.1 min
22.7 min
+7.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
406
1,361.1
+235% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,696.3
5,089.6
+200% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+18.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
—
62.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Frederick, MD

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
14.2
+35% in Frederick, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$16.62
+12% in Frederick, MD

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 (MD / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
3.00%
+3.5 pp in MD

Frederick vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or New Orleans?
Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).