Frederick, MD vs Surrey
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Surrey is approximately 29% less expensive than Frederick, MD based on cost of living including rent. This makes Surrey a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Surrey has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 35.81, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Surrey is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowUnited States
Frederick, MD
Canada
Surrey
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Surrey
Surrey is a solid pick if you want big-city access without Vancouver prices, with a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $1,047/mo and a monthly public transport pass at $107/mo. The catch is wages: an average monthly net salary of $3,032/mo against a mid-range single budget of $4,200/mo means plenty of expats are quietly subsidising the lifestyle. Safety is genuinely strong at a crime index of 15/100 and healthcare quality is excellent, so families and retirees get real value. Just don't expect the salary to stretch as far as the rent suggests.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
Surrey costs roughly 45% less than Frederick, MD. Frederick, MD scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Surrey is approximately 29% less expensive than Frederick, MD based on cost of living including rent. This makes Surrey a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Surrey has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 35.81, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Surrey is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Frederick, MD
United StatesAbout Frederick, MD
Frederick is a quietly excellent pick for anyone who wants small-city safety and a real downtown without paying DC prices. A 1-bedroom outside the center runs $1,300/mo against an average monthly net salary of $4,585/mo, and a crime index of 15/100 with a safety index of 85/100 is the kind of trade most American cities cannot offer. The catch is that Frederick is not cheap anymore: $28 for an inexpensive restaurant meal and $1,700/mo for a downtown 1-bedroom mean your budget has to be deliberate. Come for the walkable core and the 3 km hop to FDK, stay if you can tolerate humid summers, cold winters, and a medium-sized expat crowd.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$788/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Surrey
Surrey is a solid pick if you want big-city access without Vancouver prices, with a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $1,047/mo and a monthly public transport pass at $107/mo. The catch is wages: an average monthly net salary of $3,032/mo against a mid-range single budget of $4,200/mo means plenty of expats are quietly subsidising the lifestyle. Safety is genuinely strong at a crime index of 15/100 and healthcare quality is excellent, so families and retirees get real value. Just don't expect the salary to stretch as far as the rent suggests.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
$1,029/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
Compare visas for these countriesBattle of Lifestyles
Scroll to compare
| Metric | Frederick, MD | Surrey |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1700 | $1316.83 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1300 | $1047.39 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $3500 | $2677.5 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2000 | $2109.39 |
| Safety Index | 69.01 | 35.81 |
| Internet Speed | 120Mbps | 120Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Frederick, MD | Surrey |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,171/mo | $1,953/mo |
| Excluding rent | $871/mo | $906/mo |
| Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,047/mo |
| Groceries | $207/mo | $235/mo |
| Dining out | $250/mo | $175/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $113/mo | $106/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $301/mo | $283/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $107/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
Planning a move to Surrey? Make sure you have the right visa.
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.
Find my visa →Compare any two visa routes.
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including Canada and United States.
Compare visas →Explore Canada
Frederick, MD vs Surrey -- Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to expand the answer.
Resources for Moving to Surrey
Find hotels in Surrey
Search and compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites.
Search hotels →Short-term rentals in Surrey
Browse vacation rentals while you scout neighborhoods for a long-term lease.
Browse rentals →eSIM for Surrey
Get connected the moment you land. No physical SIM needed.
Get eSIM →US expat taxes made simple
File your US taxes from abroad with specialists who understand expat life.
File your taxes →Virtual mailbox for US expats
Keep a US address for mail and banking while living abroad.
Get a US address →VPN for secure browsing in Surrey
Protect your data and access geo-restricted content while traveling.
Get NordVPN →