Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 10% higher in Louisville, KY. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$993
$786
+21% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$877
+16% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,096
+8% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,299
+21% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$221,500
+11% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$64,731
+11% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$48,370
+4% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.7 yr
+2.6 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
47.0%
60.6%
+13.6 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
33.4%
+6.3 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
24.0 min
22.7 min
+1.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
763.4
+26% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,536.6
+43% 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
58.2°F
+1.3°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
44.9 in
+1.1 in in Dover, DE

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.3
+26% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$33.20
+12% in Louisville, KY

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 / KY)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.50%
+3.1 pp in DE

Dover vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Louisville?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Louisville?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).