Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 35% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$750
+55% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$857
+38% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,114
+26% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,240
+35% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$120,600
+66% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$46,628
+35% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,210
+6% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
33.5 yr
+11.5 yr in Rochester, NY
Homeownership
50.3%
37.2%
+13.1 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
29.9%
+27.6 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
18.9 min
+0.7 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
690
+111% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,533.4
+75% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+6.7°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
34.3 in
+8.8 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.13/gal
+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
29.5
+53% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.01
+9% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

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

Newark vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Rochester?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).