C
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
47%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Newark Delaware National
Cost of living117109100
Goods & Services109106100
Groceries105101100
Health care95104100
Housing147123100
Transportation95100100
Utilities10097100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Newark, DE

The cost of living in Newark affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Newark is 117, which is 17% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Newark cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 47.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Newark?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Newark to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 0% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 100% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Newark Affordable?

Wondering if Newark is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Newark, for example, the median home price is 54.1% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31.4% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Newark boasting a median household income of $88,901, which is 9.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Newark?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Newark, healthcare costs are 5.4% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Newark, the utilities index registers 0.2% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Newark, the transportation index stands at 4.8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Newark cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Newark is 8% higher than the Delaware average
  • The cost of living in Newark is 17% higher than the national average
  • Newark housing is 47% higher than the national average
  • Delaware general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Delaware state income tax is 15% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Newark

See all the best places to live around Newark

Compare Newark, DE Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$131,543$10,962$3,069$3,947
      Renters$45,108$3,759$1,052$1,353
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Newark, DE, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Newark, homeowners have a median income of $131,543. Using that number, a maximum of $3,069 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $45,108, which means there is a maximum of $1,052 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Delaware Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Delaware 0% 0%

      Delaware Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Delaware 2.2% 6.6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      Haircut $38.08$27.6237.9%
      Beauty Salon $58.12$51.1113.7%
      Toothpaste $4.01$4.092.0%
      Shampoo $1.70$1.5410.2%
      Movie $14.38$12.8811.7%
      Yoga $21.47$19.669.2%

      Groceries

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.53$7.702.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.60$1.663.7%
      Milk $4.85$4.732.5%
      Potatoes $5.26$5.260.1%
      Pizza $10.99$12.7613.9%
      Beer $10.89$10.553.2%

      Health Care

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $148.79$140.066.2%
      Doctor $154.54$153.820.5%
      Dentist $124.92$123.151.4%
      Ibuprofen $12.24$11.734.3%
      Lipitor $15.66$23.6133.7%

      Housing

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      Home Price $503,399.00$326,622.0054.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,756.98$2,480.2511.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,897.00$1,444.0031.4%

      Transportation

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.060.3%
      Tire Balancing $55.19$65.2115.4%

      Utilities

      Item Newark National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $224.41$220.122.0%
      Phone $189.07$195.713.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lincoln University, PA1,9021044.3%
      Pennsville, NJ12,2931000.0%
      Wilmington Manor, DE8,6681022.3%
      Wilmington, DE72,8231033.1%
      Elsmere, DE5,9541033.3%
      Newark, DE35,11711717.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Chester, PA35,1179010.3%
      Sun Prairie, WI35,10711211.7%
      Montgomery Village, MD35,13312827.8%
      Wenatchee, WA35,09111313.3%
      Adelanto, CA35,08111919.1%
      Newark, DE35,11711717.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.