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

St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% 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. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or St. Paul?

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

Frederick vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 23% 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

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$995

+40% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,126

+21% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,384

+17% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,662

+11% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$280,300

+23% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$73,055

+23% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$59,320

+17% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

33.5 yr

+3.6 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

53.2%

+6.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

43.5%

+1.7 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

30.1 min

22.3 min

+7.8 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

619

+52% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,897.2

+71% in St. Paul, MN

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

47.1°F

+5.0°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

28.5 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or St. Paul?: St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% 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. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or St. Paul?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).