Living Cost Compare
New York City

New York

$2,010/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 $2,010 in New York City, NY versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,713 in New York City, NY and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 31% higher in New York City, NY. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

New York City, NY
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,633
$1,103
+32% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,705
$1,024
+40% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,781
$1,213
+32% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$2,065
$1,394
+32% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$751,700
$224,500
+70% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$79,713
$55,269
+31% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$54,310
+12% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.0 yr
37.0 yr
+1.0 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
32.8%
46.0%
+13.2 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
33.1%
+7.9 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
40.6 min
23.0 min
+17.6 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
694
1,138.2
+64% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,415.4
3,182.4
+32% 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
55.0°F
54.9°F
+0.1°F in New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
43.1 in
+6.9 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in New York City, NY

Area: New York City vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
19.4
+35% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$22.51
+1% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in New York City, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
6.60%
+4.3 pp in NY

New York City vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New York City or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New York City than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in New York City versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, New York City or Wilmington?
New York City is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).