Cost of Living in Dover, DE
| Cost of Living in Dover, DE | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 12% lower | 13% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 2% lower | 4% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 0% |
| Healthcare | 4% lower | 1% higher |
| Transportation | 2% higher | 5% higher |
| Goods & Services | 3% lower | 1% lower |
The cost of living in Dover, DE is 5% lower than the state average and 4% lower than the national average. Dover, DE housing is 13% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% less pricey. 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% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 1% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% cheaper 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 $1,592, while home prices circle around $382,930.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Dover, energy bills cost around $203.20 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 $4.66 in Dover, a dozen eggs go for around $4.16 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.52.
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 $162.85, while a dentist appointment is priced $121.71 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.23 in Dover, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $76.39.
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 $34.80 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $46.21.
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 $13.17 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.79, while dry cleaning costs about $16.53.
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.