Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 36% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$760
+54% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$772
+45% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$926
+39% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,158
+40% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$165,200
+54% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$45,984
+36% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$45,780
+16% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
33.6 yr
+11.6 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
50.3%
42.9%
+7.4 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
30.3%
+27.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
18.0 min
+1.6 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
1,189.8
+265% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,024.6
4,231.6
+109% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+1.4°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
45.6 in
+2.5 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
16.2
+16% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$28.78
+3% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Newark, DE
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / MO)
None
4.225%
+4.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.70%
+1.9 pp in DE

Newark vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Springfield?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).