Cost of Living in Dover, DE
Dover, DE — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Dover, DE to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Dover, DE?
With a price level of 97.5 (U.S. average = 100), Dover, DE is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 4% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 3% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Dover, DE vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.5 | −2.5% |
| Housing | 95.9 | −4.1% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Other services | 98.8 | −1.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Dover, DE
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,158 | $46,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,165 | $46,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,470 | $58,800/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,044 | $81,760/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,285 | $91,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Dover, DE
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Dover, DE | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,000 | $32,029 |
| $60,000 | $58,500 | $46,615 |
| $80,000 | $78,000 | $59,896 |
| $100,000 | $97,500 | $72,327 |
| $150,000 | $146,300 | $102,947 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Delaware 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Dover, DE's median wage of $46,690 takes home about $3,148 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,165, which is 37% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,983 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Dover, DE
- Federal income tax$3,423
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,895
- Medicare (1.45%)$677
- Delaware income tax$1,914
- Take-home pay$37,781
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.55% state
Pay and living costs in Delaware cities
Half of Delaware’s 484,790 workers earn less than $52,190 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,300–$81,560 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Philadelphia, PA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Dover, DE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 42% | $2,103 | $42,398 |
| Dover, DE | $46,690 | 97.5 | $1,165 | 37% | $1,983 | $38,747 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Dover, DE vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 97.5 | $1,165 | $46,690 | 68,080 |
| Burlington, NC | 93.2 | $1,230 | $44,010 | 67,830 |
| Winchester, VA | 96.5 | $1,255 | $47,070 | 67,740 |
| Traverse City, MI | 93.4 | $1,107 | $47,470 | 68,440 |
| Morgantown, WV | 93.3 | $877 | $47,350 | 67,370 |
| State College, PA | 96.8 | $1,194 | $49,220 | 68,840 |
| Yuma, AZ | 92.7 | $1,053 | $44,170 | 68,880 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dover, DE expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Dover, DE metro area are 97.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 95.9%. It is the #121 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Dover, DE?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,504 in Dover, DE (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,690.
Can you afford Dover, DE on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,690 median wage takes home about $3,148 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,165 would take 37% of that.
How much is rent in Dover, DE?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Dover, DE are $1,158 for a studio, $1,165 for one bedroom, $1,470 for two bedrooms and $2,044 for three bedrooms, including utilities.