Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 1% higher in Columbia, SC. 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
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$802
$1,103
+38% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,024
+0% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,213
+4% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,394
+4% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$224,500
+8% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$55,269
+1% in Columbia, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$54,310
+17% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.0 yr
+8.3 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
47.3%
46.0%
+1.3 pp in Columbia, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
33.1%
+13.0 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
23.0 min
+5.6 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
1,138.2
+48% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,265.1
3,182.4
+3% 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 Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$29.73
+2% in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Wilmington?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Wilmington?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington 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).