Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Wichita?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 34% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$726

+56% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$761

+46% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$976

+41% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,199

+36% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$179,500

+51% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$63,072

+34% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$47,630

+33% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

59.2%

58.4%

+0.8 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

30.9%

+10.9 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

18.9 min

+11.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

1,238.7

+205% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

1,696.3

5,284.9

+212% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+4.9°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

—

32.6 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Wichita, KS

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

15.1

+31% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$25.12

+33% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Frederick, MD

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

5.58%

+0.9 pp in MD

Frederick vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Wichita?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).