Living Cost Compare
Tucson

Arizona

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

Median household income is $54,546 in Tucson, AZ and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 1% higher in Wilmington, DE. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Tucson, AZ
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$795
$1,103
+39% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$891
$1,024
+15% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,213
+6% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,520
$1,394
+8% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$242,200
$224,500
+7% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$54,546
$55,269
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,760
$54,310
+14% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
37.0 yr
+2.4 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
51.7%
46.0%
+5.7 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.2%
33.1%
+2.9 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.0 min
+0.8 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
645.8
1,138.2
+76% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,460
3,182.4
+8% in Tucson, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.2°F
54.9°F
+15.3°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
11.6 in
43.1 in
+31.5 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — Sun Tran vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
19.4
+27% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.44
$22.51
+0% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Tucson, AZ
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Tucson, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Tucson, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Tucson, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / DE)
5.6%
None
+5.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
6.60%
+4.1 pp in DE

Tucson vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tucson or Wilmington?
Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Tucson versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Tucson or Wilmington?
Tucson is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).