Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Salem?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Frederick vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR 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 $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 24% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,075

+35% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$989

+30% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,337

+20% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,778

+5% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$382,400

+5% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$71,900

+24% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$55,310

+22% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

55.7%

+3.5 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

31.4%

+10.4 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

22.4 min

+7.7 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

540.6

+33% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,696.3

2,878.6

+70% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+0.9°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

—

39.7 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

16.3

+25% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$20.59

+9% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

9.90%

+3.4 pp in OR

Frederick vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Salem?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).