Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 11% higher in Dover, DE. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$791
$993
+26% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,047
+28% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,185
+16% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,634
+33% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$248,500
+15% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$58,336
+13% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$46,690
+7% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.1 yr
+2.1 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
38.9%
47.0%
+8.1 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
27.1%
+14.2 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
24.0 min
+0.9 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
1,025.3
+20% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
3,877.7
6,159.1
+59% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
56.9°F
+2.6°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
46.0 in
+4.1 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Dover, DE

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
19.3
+1% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$29.73
+30% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cincinnati, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cincinnati, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / DE)
5.75%
None
+5.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.60%
+3.8 pp in DE

Cincinnati vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Dover?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Dover?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).