Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or Wilmington?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Reno vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 30% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Reno, NV

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$964

$1,103

+14% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$1,024

+15% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,213

+20% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,394

+26% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$224,500

+55% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$55,269

+30% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$54,310

+9% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

37.0 yr

+0.3 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

49.4%

46.0%

+3.4 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

33.1%

+2.6 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.6 min

23.0 min

+2.4 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

1,138.2

+115% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

2,489.3

3,182.4

+28% 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

53.8°F

54.9°F

+1.1°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

43.1 in

+35.7 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

19.4

+43% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$22.51

+86% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / DE)

6.85%

None

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Reno vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Wilmington?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).