Dover, DE Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Dover, DE Summary

Cost of living in Dover research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Dover is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Delaware, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Dover is 104, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Dover is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Dover ranks as the #4 cheapest in Delaware out of 19.

  • Dover ranks as the #3,063 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Dover is $333,974.

  • The median income in Dover is $58,336.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
104
Dover's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Dover, DE?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dover has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Delaware, Dover has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Delaware's index of 106.

The standard of living in Dover ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in Delaware. By definition, that implies Dover ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the First State.

For more reading on life in Dover, check out:

4 out of 19
In Delaware
3,063 out of 6,489
In America

Dover Cost Of Living Vs. Delaware

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dover. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Dover is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Dover is 102.

  • The Health index in Dover is 101.

  • The Housing index in Dover is 101.

  • The Transportation index in Dover is 99.

  • The Utilities index in Dover is 108.

Living Expense Dover Delaware National Average
Overall 104 106 100
Services 102 103 100
Groceries 102 103 100
Health 101 103 100
Housing 101 123 100
Transportation 99 102 100
Utilities 108 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Delaware, check out:
Dover Cost of Living Vs. DE

Dover, DE Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Delaware, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Dover is $333,974.

  • The Median Rent in Dover is $1,252.

  • The Median Income in Dover is $58,336.

  • The Home Value To Income in Dover is 5.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Dover is 0.26x.

Statistic Dover Delaware United States
Median Home Value $333,974 $398,669 $303,400
Median Rent $1,252 $1,341 $1,348
Median Income $58,336 $82,855 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.7x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.19x 0.21x
$333,974
Median Home Value
$1,252
Median Rent
$58,336
Median Income

Dover, DE Costs By Category

Detailed Dover Services Costs Vs. Delaware

Item Dover Delaware
Shampoo $1.28 $1.28
Movie $12.4 $12.13
Bowling $19.44 $18
Haircut $23.17 $24.26
Beauty Salon $52.17 $45.56

Detailed Dover Groceries Costs Vs. Delaware

Item Dover Delaware
Ground Beef $6.11 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.68 $4.67
Potatoes $5.38 $4.93
Pizza $12.29 $12.09
Beer $11.43 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.59 $3.7

Detailed Dover Health Costs Vs. Delaware

Item Dover Delaware
Optometrist $143.3 $125.68
Doctor $134.5 $135.78
Dentist $120.11 $113.29

Detailed Dover Transportation Costs Vs. Delaware

Item Dover Delaware
Gasoline $3.44 $3.46
Tire Balancing $62.39 $59.92

Detailed Dover Utilities Costs Vs. Delaware

Item Dover Delaware
All Electricity $214.53 $193.99
Phone $195.25 $192.25

Dover SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
4
Diversity
9.5
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dover

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dover. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Smyrna, DE has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Dover.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Dover
Smyrna, DE 13,031 105 1.0x

Articles About Delaware

Enjoy The Snack?