Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or St. Louis?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Frederick vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 42% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$864

+48% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$866

+39% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,109

+33% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,135

+39% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$185,100

+49% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$55,279

+42% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$49,990

+30% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

36.6 yr

+0.5 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

45.4%

+13.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

40.2%

+1.6 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

22.2 min

+7.9 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

1,372.9

+238% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

1,696.3

5,794.9

+242% in St. Louis, MO

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

55.7°F

+3.6°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

—

40.9 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in St. Louis, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

13.7

+37% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$24.13

+27% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Louis, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Louis, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MO)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

4.70%

+1.8 pp in MD

Frederick vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or St. Louis?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).