Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Newark, DE is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 33% higher in Washington, DC. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,763
+7% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,885
+36% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,949
+29% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$2,249
+17% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$724,600
+103% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$106,287
+49% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$71,060
+31% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
34.9 yr
+12.9 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
50.3%
41.1%
+9.2 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
63.6%
+6.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
19.6 min
30.3 min
+10.7 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
936.3
+187% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,627.9
+79% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+3.3°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
39.7 in
+3.3 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
24.4
+26% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.28
+8% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
10.75%
+4.2 pp in DC

Newark vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Washington?
Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Washington?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).