Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Philadelphia?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 36% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,126

+32% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,189

+16% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,394

+16% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,406

+25% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$232,400

+36% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$60,698

+36% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$54,310

+24% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.1 yr

+2.0 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

52.3%

+6.9 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

34.6%

+7.2 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

32.0 min

+1.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

917.1

+126% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

1,696.3

4,615.3

+172% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+5.0°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

—

48.5 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

21.6

+1% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$19.17

+1% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / PA)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

3.07%

+3.4 pp in MD

Frederick vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Philadelphia?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).