Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Reno?

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Reno?

Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Newark vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 9% higher in Reno, NV. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Newark, DE

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,649

$964

+42% in Newark, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,391

$1,206

+13% in Newark, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,513

$1,518

+0% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,916

$1,885

+2% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$357,600

$498,600

+39% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$71,373

$78,448

+10% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

$49,660

+9% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

22.0 yr

37.3 yr

+15.3 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

50.3%

49.4%

+0.9 pp in Newark, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.5%

35.7%

+21.8 pp in Newark, DE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

20.6 min

+1.0 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

326.3

528.9

+62% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,024.6

2,489.3

+23% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+1.1°F in Newark, DE

Annual Precipitation

43.1 in

7.4 in

+35.7 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

13.1

+32% in Newark, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$13.83

+53% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Newark, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

None

+6.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Reno?: Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).