Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Wilmington?

Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Spokane or Wilmington?

Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Spokane vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,745 in Spokane, WA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 16% higher in Spokane, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Spokane, WA

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$884

$1,103

+25% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$903

$1,024

+13% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,192

$1,213

+2% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,442

$1,394

+3% in Spokane, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$326,200

$224,500

+31% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$65,745

$55,269

+16% in Spokane, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,660

$54,310

+1% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

37.0 yr

+0.2 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

58.3%

46.0%

+12.3 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.6%

33.1%

+0.5 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

21.2 min

23.0 min

+1.8 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

683.6

1,138.2

+67% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

4,931.8

3,182.4

+35% in Spokane, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.9°F

54.9°F

+6.0°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

17.8 in

43.1 in

+25.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.12/gal

$3.86/gal

+25% in Spokane, WA

Area: Washington vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

19.4

+30% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.41

$22.51

+10% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Spokane, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / DE)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Spokane vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Wilmington?: Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Spokane than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Spokane or Wilmington?: Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).