Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Columbus, GA versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 3% higher in Dover, DE. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$826
$993
+20% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$875
$1,047
+20% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,185
+20% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,634
+34% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$248,500
+36% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$58,336
+3% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$46,690
+7% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.1 yr
about equal
Homeownership
50.2%
47.0%
+3.2 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
27.1%
+2.6 pp in Columbus, GA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
24.0 min
+3.8 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
1,025.3
+67% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
2,273.4
6,159.1
+171% 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
65.7°F
56.9°F
+8.8°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
46.0 in
+0.7 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.3
+18% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$29.73
+23% in Columbus, GA

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 (GA / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
6.60%
+1.4 pp in DE

Columbus vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Dover?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Dover?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).