Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Salem?

Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Newark vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR 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 $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 1% higher in Salem, OR. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Newark, DE

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,649

$1,075

+35% in Newark, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,391

$989

+29% in Newark, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,513

$1,337

+12% in Newark, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,916

$1,778

+7% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$357,600

$382,400

+7% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$71,373

$71,900

+1% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

$55,310

+2% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

22.0 yr

35.7 yr

+13.7 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

50.3%

55.7%

+5.4 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.5%

31.4%

+26.1 pp in Newark, DE

Avg Commute

19.6 min

22.4 min

+2.8 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

326.3

540.6

+66% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

2,024.6

2,878.6

+42% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+1.9°F in Newark, DE

Annual Precipitation

43.1 in

39.7 in

+3.4 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

16.3

+15% in Newark, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$21.60

+27% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Newark, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / OR)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

9.90%

+3.3 pp in OR

Newark vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Salem?: Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).