Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 15% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,126
+32% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,189
+15% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,394
+8% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,406
+27% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$232,400
+35% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$60,698
+15% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$54,310
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.1 yr
+13.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
50.3%
52.3%
+2.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
34.6%
+22.9 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
32.0 min
+12.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
917.1
+181% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,024.6
4,615.3
+128% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
57.1°F
+2.2°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
48.5 in
+5.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
21.7
+13% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$26.08
+12% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / PA)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.07%
+3.5 pp in DE

Newark vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Philadelphia?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).