Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 18% higher in Lexington, KY. 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
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$769
$1,103
+43% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,024
+15% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,213
+8% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,394
+1% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$224,500
+17% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$55,269
+18% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$54,310
+12% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
37.0 yr
+1.8 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
53.6%
46.0%
+7.6 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
33.1%
+14.2 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
23.0 min
+2.2 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
1,138.2
+323% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,304.4
3,182.4
+38% 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
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
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Lexington, KY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
19.4
+29% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$22.51
+24% 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 Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Wilmington?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Wilmington?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).