Living Cost Compare
Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 10% higher in Washington, DC. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,658
$1,763
+6% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,885
+33% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,661
$1,949
+17% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,863
$2,249
+21% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$365,200
$724,600
+98% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$95,150
$106,287
+12% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060
$71,060
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.1 yr
34.9 yr
+2.2 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
59.2%
41.1%
+18.1 pp in Frederick, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.8%
63.6%
+21.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
30.1 min
30.3 min
+0.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
406
936.3
+131% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,696.3
3,627.9
+114% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+6.1°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
—
39.7 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
25.4
+17% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$22.01
+16% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
10.75%
+4.3 pp in DC

Frederick vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Washington?
Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Washington?
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 Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Washington?
Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).