Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Tampa?

Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Tampa?

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

Frederick vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 25% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,242

+25% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,324

+7% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,673

+1% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,729

+7% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$375,300

+3% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$71,302

+25% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$48,940

+31% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.6 yr

+1.5 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

50.2%

+9.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

44.6%

+2.8 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

30.1 min

24.7 min

+5.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

443.2

+9% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

1,696.3

1,473.2

+13% 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

73.4°F

+21.3°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

—

46.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.77/gal

+2% in Frederick, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

15.2

+30% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$23.62

+25% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / FL)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

None

+6.5 pp in MD

Frederick vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Tampa?: Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Tampa?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).