Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 29% higher in Raleigh, NC. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,301
+31% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,323
+26% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,462
+23% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,715
+5% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$377,800
+52% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$82,424
+41% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$51,990
+11% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.7 yr
+0.4 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
51.2%
+4.2 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
52.9%
+25.8 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
24.0 min
23.4 min
+0.6 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
491.5
+52% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,838.4
+54% 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
60.6°F
+3.7°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
46.0 in
+0.0 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.7
+24% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$30.10
+1% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)
None
4.75%
+4.8 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.99%
+2.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Raleigh?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Raleigh?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).