Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 30% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$998
$993
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,047
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,185
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,634
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$248,500
+41% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$58,336
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$46,690
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
35.1 yr
+0.5 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
47.0%
+14.3 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
27.1%
+14.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
24.0 min
+1.2 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
1,025.3
+42% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
3,488.7
6,159.1
+77% 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
49.0°F
56.9°F
+7.9°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
46.0 in
+29.5 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
19.3
+13% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$29.73
+98% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / DE)
2.9%
None
+2.9 pp in CO
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.60%
+2.2 pp in DE

Colorado Springs vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Dover?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Dover?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).