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Cost of living in Delaware

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 99.8 About the same as the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 20th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 102.0 19th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $55,185 39th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Delaware are within 1% of the national average (index 99.8; BEA 2024), 20th of 51 states and DC.
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $55,185 in 2017 dollars, 39th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Within Delaware, metro price levels run from 97.5 in Dover, DE to 102.6 in Philadelphia, PA (US = 100).
  • No single category stands out in Delaware: housing is 2.0% above average, goods 3.8% below average and other services 1.2% above average.
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Delaware has barely moved: 100.8 in 2008, 98.8 in 2019 and 99.8 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Delaware, goods is the category furthest from the US average: 3.8% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
99.8
Goods
96.2
Housing (rents)
102.0
Utilities
103.8
Other services
101.2

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
All items99.8
Goods96.2
Housing (rents)102.0
Utilities103.8
Other services101.2

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.31 a gallon in the Central Atlantic region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.03 more than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Delaware, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Delaware

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 2 metro areas BEA measures in Delaware is Dover, DE (97.5); the most expensive is Philadelphia, PA (102.6). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Dover, DE is the cheapest metro area in Delaware (97.5); Philadelphia, PA the most expensive (102.6)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Dover, DE
97.5
Philadelphia, PA Spans PA, NJ, DE, MD
102.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Dover, DE97.5
Philadelphia, PA102.6
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Dover, DE 97.5 95.9 96.4 97.2 98.8 $1,775
Philadelphia, PA 102.6 113.1 96.8 114.4 103.1 $1,903

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Delaware has stayed close to the US average since 2008

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
2008100.8
2009102.1
2010101.5
2011100.4
201299.6
201398.6
201499.7
201597.9
201698.5
201798.5
201899.3
201998.8
202096.8
202197.4
202298.0
202398.8
202499.8

Goods: 103.5 in 2008, 96.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
2008103.5
2009101.9
2010101.5
2011102.5
201299.4
201397.1
201495.7
201597.1
201698.6
201796.5
201896.8
201995.7
202094.5
202194.5
202294.6
202397.3
202496.2

Housing (rents): 93.7 in 2008, 102.0 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
200893.7
2009104.5
201099.4
201198.2
201298.1
201398.9
2014103.9
201595.2
201694.4
201794.7
201899.3
201996.0
202091.9
202197.0
202299.1
202398.9
2024102.0

Utilities: 111.9 in 2008, 103.8 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
2008111.9
2009117.7
2010116.4
2011117.2
2012117.3
2013111.7
2014105.0
2015104.0
2016103.0
2017102.0
201899.5
201999.6
202098.4
202193.5
202295.7
2023104.4
2024103.8

Other services: 100.6 in 2008, 101.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Delaware
2008100.6
2009100.6
2010101.5
201199.0
201299.3
201398.9
2014101.0
201599.0
201699.5
2017100.9
2018100.8
2019101.7
2020100.0
202199.9
2022100.1
202399.4
2024101.2

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Delaware is $55,185, 39th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Delaware
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
DelawareUnited States
2008$45,956$45,816
2009$45,289$44,204
2010$44,778$44,808
2011$47,032$45,957
2012$46,566$46,796
2013$46,578$46,358
2014$46,900$47,661
2015$49,667$49,396
2016$49,892$49,828
2017$50,878$51,006
2018$52,109$52,242
2019$52,671$53,683
2020$54,952$56,514
2021$56,509$59,365
2022$56,371$57,104
2023$54,314$58,088
2024$55,185$59,195

Compare Delaware with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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