Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 8% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$884
+46% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$903
+35% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,192
+21% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,442
+25% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$326,200
+9% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$65,745
+8% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$54,660
+1% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
37.2 yr
+15.2 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
50.3%
58.3%
+8.0 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
32.6%
+24.9 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
21.2 min
+1.6 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
683.6
+110% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
2,024.6
4,931.8
+144% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+6.0°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
17.8 in
+25.3 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.26/gal
+34% in Spokane, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.9
+23% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$21.34
+28% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Spokane, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Spokane, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Spokane, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Spokane, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / WA)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Spokane?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).