Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 7% higher in San Antonio, TX. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,052
+6% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,084
+4% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,327
+12% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,545
+5% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$219,700
+12% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$62,917
+8% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$47,010
+1% in San Antonio, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
52.4%
+5.4 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
28.7%
+1.6 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
24.0 min
24.6 min
+0.6 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
605.7
+41% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
4,665.7
+24% 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
68.5°F
+11.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
34.9 in
+11.2 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.9
+17% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$31.89
+7% in San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)
None
6.25%
+6.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Dover vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or San Antonio?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below San Antonio, TX's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or San Antonio?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).