Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Rochester?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 8% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,080

+35% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,106

+22% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,243

+25% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,646

+12% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$287,500

+21% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$87,767

+8% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$60,620

+15% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

36.4 yr

+0.7 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

65.4%

+6.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

50.1%

+8.3 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

30.1 min

17.2 min

+12.9 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

158.9

+61% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,696.3

1,379

+19% in Frederick, MD

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

45.4°F

+6.7°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

33.0 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

16.9

+22% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$14.95

+21% in Frederick, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.85%

+3.3 pp in MN

Frederick vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Rochester?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).