Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 22% higher in Newark, DE. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$802
$1,649
+106% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,391
+36% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,513
+30% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,916
+43% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$357,600
+47% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$71,373
+28% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$54,310
+17% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
22.0 yr
+6.7 yr in Columbia, SC
Homeownership
47.3%
50.3%
+3.0 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
57.5%
+11.4 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
17.4 min
19.6 min
+2.2 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
326.3
+58% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
2,024.6
+38% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
54.9°F
+10.0°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
43.1 in
+2.3 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
19.3
+24% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$29.73
+2% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in DE

Columbia vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Newark?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Newark?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark 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).