What is the cost of living in New Castle, DE?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Castle has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Delaware, New Castle has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Delaware's index of 105.
The standard of living in New Castle ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in Delaware. By definition, that implies New Castle ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the First State.
For more reading on life in New Castle, check out:
New Castle Cost Of Living Vs. Delaware
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Castle. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Castle is 98.
The Groceries index in New Castle is 99.
The Health index in New Castle is 126.
The Housing index in New Castle is 100.
The Transportation index in New Castle is 103.
The Utilities index in New Castle is 105.
| Living Expense | New Castle | Delaware | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 121 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 103 | 100 |
New Castle Cost Of Living Compared To Delaware Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Delaware, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in New Castle Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
New Castle, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in New Castle is $280,916.
The Median Rent in New Castle is $1,739.
The Median Income in New Castle is $89,205.
The Home Value To Income in New Castle is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Castle is 0.23x.
| Statistic | New Castle | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $280,916 | $402,891 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,739 | $1,401 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,205 | $84,954 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 4.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
New Castle, DE Costs By Category
Detailed New Castle Services costs vs. Delaware
| Item | New Castle | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.71 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.14 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed New Castle Groceries costs vs. Delaware
| Item | New Castle | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.73 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.81 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.33 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed New Castle Health costs vs. Delaware
| Item | New Castle | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $149.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Castle Transportation costs vs. Delaware
| Item | New Castle | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $74.86 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Castle Utilities costs vs. Delaware
| Item | New Castle | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
New Castle SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Castle
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Castle. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wilmington, DE has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x New Castle.
Bear, DE has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x New Castle.
Pennsville, NJ has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x New Castle.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, DE | 71,727 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Bear, DE | 22,370 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Pennsville, NJ | 12,233 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Woodlyn, PA | 9,736 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Village Green-Green Ridge, PA | 9,073 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,671 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Brookhaven, PA | 8,331 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Wilmington Manor, DE | 8,214 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Carneys Point, NJ | 8,050 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,261 | 104 | 1.0x |
