Cost of Living in Delaware
Based on 3 cities we track in Delaware.
Cost of living in Delaware is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $1,047 a month — about the same as the $1,076 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $58,336, 12% lower than the $66,029 median across the states we track. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$1,047
Median Home Value
$248,500
Median Income
$58,336
Avg Temperature
54.9°F
Medians across the Delaware cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
None
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 6.60%
Cities in Delaware
Compare Delaware with
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Delaware cost of living — FAQ
- Is Delaware expensive to live in?
- Delaware is around the middle of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,047 ranks #27 of 51 and is about the same as the $1,076 median.
- What is the average rent in Delaware?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Delaware, average rent runs a studio around $1,103, a one-bedroom around $1,047, a two-bedroom around $1,213, a three-bedroom around $1,634 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Delaware?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Delaware is $248,500 — 8% lower than the $270,100 median across the states we track.
- Does Delaware have a state income tax?
- Yes — Delaware's top state income tax rate is 6.60% (most filers pay less than the top rate). It also has no state sales tax.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Delaware?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,047 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Delaware is $58,336.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).