Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Reno?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 18% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$964

+42% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,206

+15% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,518

+9% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,885

+1% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$498,600

+37% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$78,448

+18% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$49,660

+30% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

37.3 yr

+0.2 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

59.2%

49.4%

+9.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

35.7%

+6.1 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

20.6 min

+9.5 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

528.9

+30% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,489.3

+47% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+1.7°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

—

7.4 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

13.6

+38% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$12.09

+36% in Frederick, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

None

+6.5 pp in MD

Frederick vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Reno?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).