Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$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 Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ 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 $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 24% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$795
+52% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$891
+36% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,146
+24% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,520
+21% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$242,200
+32% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$54,546
+24% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$47,760
+12% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
34.6 yr
+12.6 yr in Tucson, AZ
Homeownership
50.3%
51.7%
+1.4 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
30.2%
+27.3 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.2 min
+2.6 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
645.8
+98% in Tucson, AZ
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,460
+71% in Tucson, AZ

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
70.2°F
+15.3°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
11.6 in
+31.5 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.21/gal
+32% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Tran (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.2
+21% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$24.74
+17% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / AZ)
None
5.6%
+5.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
2.50%
+4.1 pp in DE

Newark vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson?
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 Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Tucson?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).