Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,080 in Lexington, KY versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 5% higher in Newark, DE. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$769
$1,649
+114% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,391
+57% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,513
+35% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,916
+36% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$357,600
+31% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$71,373
+6% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$54,310
+12% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
22.0 yr
+13.2 yr in Lexington, KY
Homeownership
53.6%
50.3%
+3.3 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
57.5%
+10.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.6 min
+1.2 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
326.3
+21% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
2,304.4
2,024.6
+12% in Lexington, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.6°F
54.9°F
+0.7°F in Lexington, KY
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
43.1 in
+2.1 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.3
19.3
+35% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.20
$29.73
+10% in Lexington, KY

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 (KY / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
6.60%
+3.1 pp in DE

Lexington vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Newark?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Newark?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark 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).