Cost of living index

Dover, DE

97.5 / 100

Living in Dover, DE is 2.5% cheaper than the US average — the #120 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,285/mo

Median home value: $290,600

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Dover, DE metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
48° / 30°F
(9° / -1°C)
9.1 in precip
Spring
65° / 45°F
(18° / 7°C)
10.8 in precip
Summer
86° / 67°F
(30° / 19°C)
12.2 in precip
Fall
69° / 50°F
(21° / 10°C)
11.8 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from GEORGETOWN SUSSEX CO AP, via NOAA.

The Dover, DE metro area has an overall price level of 97.5 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 2.5% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 95.9 it is 4.1% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#120 of 387
97.5
Goods#142 of 387
96.4
Housing rents#111 of 387
95.9
Utilities#98 of 387
97.2
Other services#191 of 387
98.8

Dover, DE is moved down the most by housing rents, at 95.9 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

Browse DelawareSee the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Dover, DE an expensive place to live?

Dover, DE has an overall cost-of-living index of 97.5, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 2.5% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Dover, DE?

Housing rents in Dover, DE score 95.9 against a US average of 100 — roughly 4.1% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Dover, DE compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Dover, DE sit at 97.5 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 95.9. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.