Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 4% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$993
$702
+29% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$758
+28% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$977
+18% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,177
+28% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$130,600
+47% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$55,902
+4% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$49,540
+6% in Topeka, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
38.2 yr
+3.1 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
47.0%
59.2%
+12.2 pp in Topeka, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
29.1%
+2.0 pp in Topeka, KS
Avg Commute
24.0 min
16.7 min
+7.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
856.5
+16% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,660.2
+41% 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
55.1°F
+1.8°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
36.5 in
+9.6 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.7
+19% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$25.12
+16% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Topeka, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Topeka, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Topeka, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Topeka, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / KS)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.58%
+1.0 pp in DE

Dover vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Topeka?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).