Living Cost Compare
Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,650 in Frederick, MD versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 7% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,658
$1,085
+35% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,191
+16% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,661
$1,333
+20% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,863
$1,723
+8% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$365,200
$377,300
+3% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$95,150
$88,604
+7% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060
$55,240
+22% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.1 yr
30.3 yr
+6.8 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
59.2%
71.1%
+11.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.8%
15.7%
+26.1 pp in Frederick, MD
Avg Commute
30.1 min
22.2 min
+7.9 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
406
471.8
+16% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
1,696.3
1,855.5
+9% in West Valley City, UT

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
52.8°F
+0.7°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
—
16.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
13.4
+39% in Frederick, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.57
$11.84
+48% in Frederick, MD

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
4.50%
+2.0 pp in MD

Frederick vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or West Valley City?
Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).