Dover, DE vs Carson City, NV: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Carson City, NV and Dover, DE are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Dover works out to about $75,500 in Carson City, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.5% higher in Carson City, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.0% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $2,070 a month in Carson City and $1,775 in Dover, $3,540 a year more in Carson City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $494,000 in Carson City and $372,000 in Dover.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Carson City was 3.5% more expensive than Dover.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Dover and Carson City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.5 | 98.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 95.9 | 101.2 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 92.7 |
| Other services | 98.8 | 98.7 |
| Category | Dover | Carson City | Carson City vs Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.5 | 98.1 | +0.6% |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.3 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 95.9 | 101.2 | +5.5% |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 92.7 | −4.6% |
| Other services | 98.8 | 98.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,775 | $2,070 | +16.6% |
| Typical home value | $372,000 | $494,000 | +32.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Dover | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Dover and Carson City has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.8 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 97.5 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 97.4 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 95.1 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 97.4 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 100.3 | 96.1 |
| 2017 | 96.7 | 97.7 |
| 2018 | 94.9 | 94.8 |
| 2019 | 95.2 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 94.9 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 94.0 |
| 2022 | 95.1 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 91.9 | 94.9 |
| 2024 | 97.5 | 98.1 |
Goods
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 96.3 | 99.6 |
| 2010 | 97.2 | 99.5 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 98.5 |
| 2012 | 97.4 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 96.9 | 96.2 |
| 2014 | 97.3 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 96.1 | 104.1 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 105.0 |
| 2017 | 97.2 | 101.7 |
| 2018 | 95.2 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.2 | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 96.8 |
| 2022 | 94.9 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.4 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.2 | 94.7 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 80.1 |
| 2010 | 94.1 | 91.9 |
| 2011 | 89.6 | 94.6 |
| 2012 | 83.3 | 87.2 |
| 2013 | 89.3 | 91.1 |
| 2014 | 94.8 | 93.4 |
| 2015 | 87.0 | 88.4 |
| 2016 | 97.7 | 84.6 |
| 2017 | 84.3 | 90.7 |
| 2018 | 86.0 | 93.3 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 103.5 |
| 2020 | 88.8 | 92.2 |
| 2021 | 83.3 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 81.9 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 69.1 | 93.4 |
| 2024 | 95.9 | 101.2 |
Utilities
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.9 | 86.2 |
| 2009 | 115.9 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 114.6 | 100.6 |
| 2011 | 112.6 | 97.6 |
| 2012 | 109.0 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 104.5 | 92.6 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 104.2 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 101.6 | 97.3 |
| 2017 | 96.5 | 90.3 |
| 2018 | 96.7 | 82.2 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 86.7 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 86.2 |
| 2021 | 91.1 | 75.6 |
| 2022 | 91.0 | 82.7 |
| 2023 | 95.7 | 90.7 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 92.7 |
Other services
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 102.2 |
| 2009 | 98.4 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 100.1 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 101.8 | 97.6 |
| 2012 | 101.6 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 99.4 |
| 2016 | 103.3 | 94.3 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 98.1 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 95.4 |
| 2019 | 95.2 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 94.7 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 100.2 | 91.6 |
| 2022 | 100.2 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 94.3 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,070 in Carson City vs $1,775 in Dover
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,030 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,038 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,020 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,043 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,054 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,062 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,056 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,042 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,074 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,078 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,083 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,098 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,105 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,115 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,126 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,114 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,133 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,151 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,162 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,149 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,166 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,181 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,212 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,257 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,308 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,375 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,457 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,470 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,450 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,509 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,519 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,570 | $1,797 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,554 | $1,802 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,552 | $1,829 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,605 | $1,853 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,617 | $1,825 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,642 | $1,878 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,645 | $1,867 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,640 | $1,917 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,652 | $1,902 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,697 | $1,930 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,688 | $1,953 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,698 | $1,961 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,709 | $1,984 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,739 | $2,023 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,732 | $2,046 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,775 | $2,070 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $494,000 in Carson City vs $372,000 in Dover
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Dover, DE
- Carson City, NV
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Dover, DE | Carson City, NV | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $192K | $203K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $196K | $210K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $199K | $221K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $200K | $231K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $201K | $240K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $204K | $248K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $207K | $255K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $209K | $261K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $210K | $271K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $209K | $277K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $209K | $282K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $211K | $290K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $214K | $299K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $217K | $308K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $219K | $314K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $219K | $320K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $225K | $328K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $228K | $333K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $230K | $339K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $233K | $340K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $237K | $347K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $240K | $348K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $246K | $352K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $258K | $373K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $270K | $398K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $282K | $425K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $288K | $442K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $295K | $449K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $309K | $471K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $322K | $486K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $324K | $475K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $323K | $458K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $327K | $449K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $333K | $449K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $339K | $460K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $345K | $469K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $347K | $473K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $351K | $477K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $352K | $479K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $358K | $483K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $360K | $488K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $360K | $489K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $363K | $489K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $366K | $490K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $368K | $490K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $369K | $489K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $372K | $494K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.