What is the cost of living in Wilmington, DE?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wilmington has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Delaware, Wilmington has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Delaware's index of 105.
The standard of living in Wilmington ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in Delaware. By definition, that implies Wilmington ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the First State.
For more reading on life in Wilmington, check out:
Wilmington Cost Of Living Vs. Delaware
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilmington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wilmington is 99.
The Groceries index in Wilmington is 100.
The Health index in Wilmington is 101.
The Housing index in Wilmington is 100.
The Transportation index in Wilmington is 101.
The Utilities index in Wilmington is 103.
| Living Expense | Wilmington | Delaware | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 105 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 121 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 103 | 100 |
Wilmington 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 Wilmington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wilmington, 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 Wilmington is $325,757.
The Median Rent in Wilmington is $1,224.
The Median Income in Wilmington is $58,671.
The Home Value To Income in Wilmington is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilmington is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Wilmington | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $325,757 | $402,891 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,224 | $1,401 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,671 | $84,954 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 4.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Wilmington, DE Costs By Category
Detailed Wilmington Services costs vs. Delaware
| Item | Wilmington | 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 Wilmington Groceries costs vs. Delaware
| Item | Wilmington | 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 Wilmington Health costs vs. Delaware
| Item | Wilmington | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $149.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wilmington Transportation costs vs. Delaware
| Item | Wilmington | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $74.86 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wilmington Utilities costs vs. Delaware
| Item | Wilmington | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
Wilmington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wilmington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wilmington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Drexel Hill, PA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Wilmington.
West Chester, PA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.3x Wilmington.
Broomall, PA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x Wilmington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel Hill, PA | 30,451 | 102 | 1.0x |
| West Chester, PA | 20,666 | 128 | 1.3x |
| Broomall, PA | 10,679 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Village Green-Green Ridge, PA | 9,073 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,671 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Wilmington Manor, DE | 8,214 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Carneys Point, NJ | 8,050 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,261 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Swarthmore, PA | 6,550 | 132 | 1.3x |
| Edgemoor, DE | 6,349 | 109 | 1.1x |
