Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Sacramento?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Sacramento?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Sacramento Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Sacramento

California

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 12% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,259

+24% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

about equal

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,742

+5% in Sacramento, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,973

+6% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$484,600

+33% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$83,753

+12% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$59,750

+16% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

51.5%

+7.7 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

36.4%

+5.4 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

25.6 min

+4.5 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

756.6

+86% in Sacramento, CA

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,615.3

+54% in Sacramento, CA

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

61.0°F

+8.9°F in Sacramento, CA

Annual Precipitation

—

18.5 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.40/gal

+40% in Sacramento, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

33.3

+53% in Sacramento, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$20.72

+9% in Sacramento, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Sacramento, CA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Sacramento, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Sacramento, CA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Sacramento, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Sacramento, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / CA)

7.25%

+1.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

13.30%

+6.8 pp in CA

Frederick vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Sacramento?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Sacramento?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Sacramento?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).