Cost of Living in Delaware
Updated November 2026 · population 1,021,191
Delaware prices are 0.2% below the US average (index 99.8), ranking 20th most expensive of 51 states and DC; goods is the biggest saving at 96.2, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,726 a month.
Prices by category
Delaware price index by category, US average = 100: All items 99.8, Housing (rents) 102.0, Goods 96.2, Utilities 103.8, Other services 101.2
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Delaware (whole state) | 99.8 |
| Metropolitan areas of Delaware | 101.1 |
| Delaware has no nonmetropolitan area in the BEA data. | |
Cities in Delaware
Select a column heading to sort.
| Wilmington | 71,727 | 99.1 | $2,607 | $5,231 | $1,224 | $231,400 |
| Dover | 39,837 | 96.1 | $2,679 | $5,301 | $1,344 | $258,900 |
| Georgetown | 7,660 | 102.5 | $2,521 | $5,150 | $1,410 | $281,400 |
Metro areas in Delaware
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 102.6 | 113.1 |
| Dover, DE | 97.5 | 95.9 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Delaware.
Modelled monthly budget at Delaware average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Delaware (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,026 | $12,312 | 38% |
| Utilities | $279 | $3,348 | 10% |
| Food at home | $271 | $3,252 | 10% |
| Transportation | $631 | $7,572 | 23% |
| Health care | $356 | $4,272 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $163 | $1,956 | 6% |
| Total | $2,726 | $32,712 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Delaware (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,201 | $14,412 | 27% |
| Utilities | $443 | $5,316 | 10% |
| Food at home | $501 | $6,012 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,248 | $14,976 | 29% |
| Health care | $659 | $7,908 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $321 | $3,852 | 7% |
| Total | $4,373 | $52,476 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Delaware (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,391 | $16,692 | 26% |
| Utilities | $539 | $6,468 | 10% |
| Food at home | $714 | $8,568 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,661 | $19,932 | 31% |
| Health care | $614 | $7,368 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $414 | $4,968 | 8% |
| Total | $5,333 | $63,996 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
18.70¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +11.0% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
$4.23/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +38.3% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the South region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 98.8 | 96.8 | 97.4 | 98.0 | 98.8 | 99.8 |
Change over the period: +1.0 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Delaware an expensive state to live in?
Delaware has a cost of living index of 99.8 (US = 100), 0.2% below the US average. It ranks 20th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 102.0 (rank 19), goods 96.2, utilities 103.8 and other services 101.2. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Delaware?
At Delaware state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,726 for a single adult, $4,373 for a couple and $5,333 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state.
What is the median rent and home value in Delaware?
The median gross rent in Delaware is $1,401 a month and the median home value is $352,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 29.9% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 10.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, South region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology