Living Cost Compare
Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 9% higher in San Diego, CA. 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
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,658
$1,737
+5% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,883
+33% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,661
$2,348
+41% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,863
$2,818
+51% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$365,200
$848,500
+132% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$95,150
$104,321
+10% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060
$58,690
+17% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.1 yr
36.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
59.2%
47.6%
+11.6 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.8%
49.9%
+8.1 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
30.1 min
23.9 min
+6.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
406
414.3
+2% in San Diego, CA
Property Crime
1,696.3
1,693.6
+0% in Frederick, MD

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
63.6°F
+11.5°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
—
10.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% in San Diego, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
33.3
+53% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$20.72
+9% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Frederick, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in San Diego, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Diego, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
13.30%
+6.8 pp in CA

Frederick vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or San Diego?
Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or San Diego?
Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); San Diego 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).