Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 15% higher in Columbus, OH. 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.

Columbus, OH
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,103
+9% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,024
+3% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,213
+5% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,394
+2% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$224,500
+4% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$55,269
+15% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$54,310
+6% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.0 yr
+4.0 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
44.3%
46.0%
+1.7 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
33.1%
+5.1 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
23.0 min
+1.2 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
1,138.2
+135% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,093.9
3,182.4
+3% in Wilmington, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
54.9°F
+2.2°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
43.1 in
+3.0 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.86/gal
+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
19.4
+1% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$22.51
+1% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

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

Columbus vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Wilmington?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).