Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 23% higher in Newark, DE. Both cities are in Delaware, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,103
+33% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,024
+26% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,213
+20% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,394
+27% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$224,500
+37% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$55,269
+23% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$54,310
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
37.0 yr
+15.0 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
50.3%
46.0%
+4.3 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
33.1%
+24.4 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.0 min
+3.4 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
1,138.2
+249% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,024.6
3,182.4
+57% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
43.1 in
about equal

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
19.3
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$29.73
about equal

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 / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
6.60%
about equal

Newark vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Wilmington?
Neither — both are in Delaware, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).