Cost of Living in Wilmington, DE
Updated November 2026 · New Castle County · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area · population 71,727
Prices in Wilmington are 0.9% below the US average (local index 99.1; the BEA index for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is 102.6), with local housing the biggest saving at 93.2; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,607 a month and the median rent is $1,224.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Wilmington's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, unchanged.
Wilmington price index by category, US average = 100: All items 99.1, Housing (rents) 93.2, Goods 96.8, Utilities 114.4, Other services 103.1
Cheaper than 62% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | 102.3 | 99.0 | 100.7 | 102.4 | 102.6 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wilmington, DE
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $884 | $10,608 | 34% |
| Utilities | $296 | $3,552 | 11% |
| Food at home | $273 | $3,276 | 10% |
| Transportation | $627 | $7,524 | 24% |
| Health care | $362 | $4,344 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 6% |
| Total | $2,607 | $31,284 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wilmington, DE
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,017 | $12,204 | 24% |
| Utilities | $471 | $5,652 | 11% |
| Food at home | $504 | $6,048 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,242 | $14,904 | 29% |
| Health care | $671 | $8,052 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $325 | $3,900 | 8% |
| Total | $4,230 | $50,760 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Wilmington, DE
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,243 | $14,916 | 24% |
| Utilities | $573 | $6,876 | 11% |
| Food at home | $719 | $8,628 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,652 | $19,824 | 32% |
| Health care | $626 | $7,512 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $418 | $5,016 | 8% |
| Total | $5,231 | $62,772 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Wilmington
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,145 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,054 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,212 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,481 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,393 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,224 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,027 |
| Median home value | $231,400 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,579/mo |
| Median household income | $58,671 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 31.0% |
| Home value ÷ household income Affordable | 3.9× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Delaware
18.70¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +11.0% (from 16.85¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 927 kWh a month in Delaware ≈ $167/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
$4.23 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +38.3% (from $3.06) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Delaware is covered by the Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) average.
Inflation in the South
Consumer prices in the South Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Wilmington are 0.9% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $60,500 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 99.1. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden, NJ | 26 mi | 99.1 | $2,470 | $1,226 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 28 mi | 101.5 | $2,782 | $1,397 |
| Vineland, NJ | 34 mi | 95.5 | $2,537 | $1,233 |
| Dover, DE | 40 mi | 96.1 | $2,679 | $1,344 |
| Bel Air South, MD | 44 mi | 105.5 | $2,995 | $1,757 |
| Lancaster, PA | 46 mi | 97.3 | $2,564 | $1,240 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden, NJ | 99.1 | $2,470 | $1,226 |
| Chesapeake, VA | 99.1 | $2,897 | $1,586 |
| Pawtucket, RI | 99.2 | $2,569 | $1,208 |
| St. Clair Shores, MI | 99.0 | $2,463 | $1,183 |
| Pine Hills, FL | 99.3 | $2,643 | $1,542 |
| Austin, TX | 99.3 | $3,022 | $1,729 |
Compare Wilmington with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilmington, DE an expensive place to live?
Wilmington has a local cost of living index of 99.1, which is 0.9% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (102.6) and adjusts housing to Wilmington's own rents. It is 0.7 points below the Delaware average. Cheaper than 62% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Wilmington?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,607 for a single adult, $4,230 for a couple and $5,231 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $59,500 in Wilmington.
What is the average rent in Wilmington?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,224 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,054, 2 bedrooms $1,212, 3 bedrooms $1,481. The typical renter spends 31.0% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Wilmington?
The median owner-estimated home value is $231,400, 3.9 times the median household income of $58,671 (affordable). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,579 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Wilmington?
Delaware residential electricity averaged 18.70¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.23 a gallon (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 102.6) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1077580 (Wilmington city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Delaware residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U South region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources