Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 5% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$993
$864
+13% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$831
+21% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$982
+17% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,172
+28% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$148,500
+40% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$55,687
+5% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$44,950
+4% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
36.2 yr
+1.1 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
47.0%
54.3%
+7.3 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
33.5%
+6.4 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
24.0 min
20.5 min
+3.5 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
605.5
+41% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,258.3
+63% 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
65.1°F
+8.2°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
53.1 in
+7.0 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
16.4
+15% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$24.06
+19% 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 / AL)
None
4%
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.00%
+1.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Montgomery?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).