Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 22% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,103
+35% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,024
+14% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,213
+12% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,394
+11% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$224,500
+15% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$55,269
+22% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$54,310
+5% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
58.1%
46.0%
+12.1 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
33.1%
+13.1 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
23.0 min
+3.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
1,138.2
+136% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,182.4
+33% in Wilmington, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
54.9°F
+7.2°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
43.1 in
+11.3 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Wilmington, DE

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.3
+18% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$29.73
+24% in Wilmington, DE

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 (AL / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.60%
+1.6 pp in DE

Huntsville vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Wilmington?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Wilmington?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).