Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Wilmington?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Wilmington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Provo or Wilmington?

Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Provo vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 12% higher in Provo, UT. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Provo, UT

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,009

$1,103

+9% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,024

+5% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,128

$1,213

+8% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,394

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$437,100

$224,500

+49% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,800

$55,269

+12% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,010

$54,310

+13% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

23.7 yr

37.0 yr

+13.3 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

39.9%

46.0%

+6.1 pp in Wilmington, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.0%

33.1%

+11.9 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

18.5 min

23.0 min

+4.5 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

205.7

1,138.2

+453% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,280.6

3,182.4

+149% 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

53.4°F

54.9°F

+1.5°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

19.8 in

43.1 in

+23.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

19.3

+44% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.84

$29.73

+151% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / DE)

6.1%

None

+6.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

6.60%

+2.1 pp in DE

Provo vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Wilmington?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Wilmington?: Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).