Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Sacramento

California

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 30% higher in Sacramento, CA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,259
+27% in Sacramento, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,418
+35% in Sacramento, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,742
+47% in Sacramento, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,973
+21% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$484,600
+95% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$83,753
+44% in Sacramento, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$59,750
+28% in Sacramento, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.7 yr
+0.6 yr in Sacramento, CA
Homeownership
47.0%
51.5%
+4.5 pp in Sacramento, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
36.4%
+9.3 pp in Sacramento, CA
Avg Commute
24.0 min
25.6 min
+1.6 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
756.6
+26% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,615.3
+58% 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
61.0°F
+4.1°F in Sacramento, CA
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
18.5 in
+27.5 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.52/gal
+40% in Sacramento, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
34.7
+80% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$20.33
+32% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Sacramento, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Sacramento, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Sacramento, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
13.30%
+6.7 pp in CA

Dover vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Sacramento?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Sacramento, CA's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Sacramento?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Sacramento?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).