Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 5% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$993
$953
+4% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,019
+3% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,287
+9% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,392
+15% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$296,400
+19% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$55,339
+5% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$47,290
+1% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
38.4 yr
+3.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
47.0%
50.5%
+3.5 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
42.0%
+14.9 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
24.0 min
22.7 min
+1.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
1,361.1
+33% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
6,159.1
5,089.6
+17% 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
70.6°F
+13.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
62.3 in
+16.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
13.5
+30% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$16.62
+44% 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 / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.00%
+3.6 pp in DE

Dover vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or New Orleans?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).