Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 13% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,127
+13% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,146
+9% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,385
+17% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,545
+5% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$266,100
+7% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$66,981
+15% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$48,830
+5% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
36.4 yr
+1.3 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
47.0%
57.4%
+10.4 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
31.8%
+4.7 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Avg Commute
24.0 min
24.1 min
+0.1 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
558.4
+46% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,600.1
+58% 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
56.9°F
70.2°F
+13.3°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
49.2 in
+3.1 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.83/gal
+3% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.1
+22% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$23.62
+21% in Dover, 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 (DE / FL)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Jacksonville?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Jacksonville?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).