Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (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 Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY 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 $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 51% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$750

+55% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$857

+40% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,114

+33% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,240

+33% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$120,600

+67% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$46,628

+51% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$51,210

+28% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

33.5 yr

+3.6 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

37.2%

+22.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

29.9%

+11.9 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

18.9 min

+11.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

690

+70% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

1,696.3

3,533.4

+108% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+3.9°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

34.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.04/gal

+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

29.9

+37% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$22.74

+20% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NY)

+2.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

10.90%

+4.4 pp in NY

Frederick vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (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 Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).