Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Wilmington?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Wilmington?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Newark vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 12% higher in Wilmington, DE. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$1,103

+1% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,024

+5% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,213

+12% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,394

+18% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$224,500

+34% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$55,269

+14% in Wilmington, DE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$54,310

+12% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

37.0 yr

+2.2 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

24.1%

46.0%

+21.9 pp in Wilmington, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

33.1%

+15.7 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

33.2 min

23.0 min

+10.2 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

1,138.2

+95% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,961.8

3,182.4

+62% 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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

43.1 in

+3.2 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

19.4

+17% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$22.51

+41% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / DE)

6.625%

None

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

6.60%

+4.2 pp in NJ

Newark vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Wilmington?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Wilmington?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (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).