Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 22% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$993
$997
+0% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,166
+11% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,461
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,993
+22% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$495,700
+99% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$74,925
+28% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$55,240
+18% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
46.8%
+0.2 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
50.9%
+23.8 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
24.0 min
19.6 min
+4.4 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
878.8
+14% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
5,257.3
+15% 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
52.8°F
+4.1°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
16.1 in
+29.9 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
13.4
+31% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$11.84
+60% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / UT)
None
6.1%
+6.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.50%
+2.1 pp in DE

Dover vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Salt Lake City?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Salt Lake City?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).