Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Philadelphia?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Philadelphia?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Dover or Philadelphia?

Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Dover vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 4% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,126

+13% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,189

+14% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,185

$1,394

+18% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,634

$1,406

+14% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,500

$232,400

+6% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income

$58,336

$60,698

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,690

$54,310

+16% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

about equal

Homeownership

47.0%

52.3%

+5.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.1%

34.6%

+7.5 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

24.0 min

32.0 min

+8.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,025.3

917.1

+11% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

6,159.1

4,615.3

+25% 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

57.1°F

+0.2°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

48.5 in

+2.5 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

21.7

+13% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$26.08

+12% in Dover, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Dover, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / PA)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

3.07%

+3.5 pp in DE

Dover vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Philadelphia?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Philadelphia?: Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).