Living Cost Compare
Detroit

Michigan

$990/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 $990 in Detroit, MI versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 32% higher in Dover, DE. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Detroit, MI
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$801
$993
+24% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$752
$1,047
+39% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,001
$1,185
+18% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,634
+37% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$76,800
$248,500
+224% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$39,575
$58,336
+47% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,080
$46,690
+10% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.1 yr
about equal
Homeownership
49.7%
47.0%
+2.7 pp in Detroit, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
17.6%
27.1%
+9.5 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
25.4 min
24.0 min
+1.4 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,783.4
1,025.3
+43% in Detroit, MI
Property Crime
4,391.6
6,159.1
+40% 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
50.3°F
56.9°F
+6.6°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
31.3 in
46.0 in
+14.7 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Dover, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
19.3
+16% in Detroit, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$29.73
+51% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Detroit, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Detroit, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Detroit, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Detroit, MI
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 (MI / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
6.60%
+2.3 pp in DE

Detroit vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Dover?
Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Dover?
Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).