Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 13% higher in Raleigh, NC. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,301
+21% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,323
+5% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,462
+3% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,715
+10% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$377,800
+6% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$82,424
+15% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,990
+4% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
34.7 yr
+12.7 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
50.3%
51.2%
+0.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
52.9%
+4.6 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.4 min
+3.8 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
491.5
+51% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,838.4
+40% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+5.7°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
46.0 in
+2.9 in in Raleigh, NC

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.7
+24% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$30.10
+1% in Raleigh, NC

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 (DE / NC)
None
4.75%
+4.8 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.99%
+2.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Raleigh?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Raleigh?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).