Cost of Living in Dover, DE
| Cost of Living in Dover, DE | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 10% lower | 12% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 10% higher | 7% higher |
| Food | 2% lower | 0% |
| Healthcare | 4% lower | 1% lower |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 1% higher |
| Goods & Services | 3% lower | 1% higher |
The cost of living in Dover, DE is 4% lower than the state average and 2% lower than the national average. Dover, DE housing is 12% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 7% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Dover, DE than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 1% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% pricier in Dover, DE.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Dover is $1,580, while home prices circle around $394,298.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Dover, energy bills cost around $214.53 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.68 in Dover, a dozen eggs go for around $4.02 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.38.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Dover, an optometry check-up costs around $143.30, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.11 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.45 in Dover, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $62.39.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $36.67 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $30.66.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Dover, you should budget around $12.40 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.17, while dry cleaning costs about $15.83.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Dover, the median household income is $58,336.