Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Richmond, VA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 12% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,183
+28% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,195
+14% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,374
+9% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,447
+24% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$328,100
+8% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$62,671
+12% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,460
+5% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
34.5 yr
+12.5 yr in Richmond, VA
Homeownership
50.3%
43.5%
+6.8 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
44.1%
+13.4 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.1 min
+2.5 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
349
+7% in Richmond, VA
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,240.2
+60% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+4.0°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
43.6 in
+0.5 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
17.2
+11% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.20
+9% in Newark, DE

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 / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in DE

Newark vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Richmond?
Richmond, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Richmond?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).