Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,760/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 $2,760 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 59% higher in San Francisco, 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
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,560
+57% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$2,425
+132% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$2,982
+152% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$3,269
+100% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$1,380,500
+456% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$141,446
+142% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$74,260
+59% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
39.7 yr
+4.6 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
47.0%
38.5%
+8.5 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
60.1%
+33.0 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
24.0 min
31.2 min
+7.2 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
596.5
+42% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,962.2
+36% 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
57.3°F
+0.4°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
23.6 in
+22.4 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.55/gal
+41% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
34.7
+80% in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or San Francisco?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below San Francisco, CA's $2,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or San Francisco?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); San Francisco 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).