Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Raleigh?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 13% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,301

+22% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,323

+7% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,462

+12% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,715

+8% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$377,800

+3% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$82,424

+13% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$51,990

+27% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

34.7 yr

+2.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

51.2%

+8.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

52.9%

+11.1 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

30.1 min

23.4 min

+6.7 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

491.5

+21% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,838.4

+67% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+8.5°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

—

46.0 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)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

15.1

+31% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$27.56

+46% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

4.75%

+1.3 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

3.99%

+2.5 pp in MD

Frederick vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Raleigh?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).