Living Cost Compare
Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 16% higher in Wilmington, DE. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Rochester, NY
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$750
$1,103
+47% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$857
$1,024
+19% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,114
$1,213
+9% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,240
$1,394
+12% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$120,600
$224,500
+86% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$46,628
$55,269
+19% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,210
$54,310
+6% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
37.0 yr
+3.5 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
37.2%
46.0%
+8.8 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.9%
33.1%
+3.2 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
18.9 min
23.0 min
+4.1 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
1,138.2
+65% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,533.4
3,182.4
+10% in Rochester, NY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
48.2°F
54.9°F
+6.7°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
34.3 in
43.1 in
+8.8 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$3.86/gal
+4% in Rochester, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
19.4
+35% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$22.51
+1% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Rochester, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
6.60%
+4.3 pp in NY

Rochester vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Wilmington?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Wilmington?
Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).