Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 12% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$993
$877
+12% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$948
+9% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,073
+9% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,281
+22% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$157,100
+37% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$51,211
+12% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$46,890
+0% in Memphis, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.3 yr
+0.8 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
46.0%
+1.0 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
28.2%
+1.1 pp in Memphis, TN
Avg Commute
24.0 min
21.3 min
+2.7 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
2,507.6
+145% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,159.1
6,966.3
+13% in Memphis, TN

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
63.1°F
+6.2°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
53.7 in
+7.6 in in Memphis, TN

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 MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.1
+27% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$19.75
+34% 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 / TN)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Memphis?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Memphis?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).