Living Cost Compare
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $106,287 in Washington, DC and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 48% higher in Washington, DC. District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Washington, DC
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,763
$1,103
+37% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,885
$1,024
+46% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,949
$1,213
+38% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$2,249
$1,394
+38% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$724,600
$224,500
+69% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$106,287
$55,269
+48% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060
$54,310
+24% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.0 yr
+2.1 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
41.1%
46.0%
+4.9 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
63.6%
33.1%
+30.5 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
30.3 min
23.0 min
+7.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.3
1,138.2
+22% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,627.9
3,182.4
+12% in Washington, DC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
54.9°F
+3.3°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
39.7 in
43.1 in
+3.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — WMATA (Metrobus) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
25.4
19.4
+24% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.01
$22.51
+2% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DC / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
6.60%
+4.2 pp in DC

Washington vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Washington or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Washington than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $75,000 a year in Washington versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Washington or Wilmington?
Washington is taxed under District of Columbia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).