Cost of Living Comparison Between Dover, DE and Springfield, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Dover, DE and Springfield, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,449 per month in Dover, DE vs $2,585 in Springfield, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,559 per month in Dover, DE vs $4,422 in Springfield, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,669 per month in Dover, DE vs $6,259 in Springfield, VA, rent included.

Dover, DE is about 5% cheaper than Springfield, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dover, DE and Springfield, VA sit above the global median – Dover, DE by 83%, Springfield, VA by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.82 $12.82

$19.84 $19.84

-35.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.0 $61.0

$99.8 $99.8

-38.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 $10.32

$10.96 $10.96

-5.84%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$5.17 $5.17

-6.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.16 $2.16

2.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.02 $2.02

10.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.99 $4.99

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 $7.58

$7.96 $7.96

-4.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.96 $0.96

3.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.72 $3.72

-41.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.68 $3.68

39.67%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$4.32 $4.32

-6.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$9.40 $9.40

29.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$12.40 $12.40

-6.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.23 $25.23

$15.51 $15.51

62.67%

Apples (1kg)

$6.59 $6.59

$5.70 $5.70

15.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.19 $1.19

-6.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$3.74 $3.74

46.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.35 $4.35

30.80%

Potato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.55 $2.55

60.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.71 $2.71

15.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.90 $1.90

-4.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.12 $2.12

13.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.31 $8.31

$10.44 $10.44

-20.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.28 $17.28

$13.03 $13.03

32.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.25 $2.25

-15.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.25 $4.25

-22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.05 $2.05

-3.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.43 $2.43

14.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.40 $25.40

$22.65 $22.65

12.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.90 $0.90

-7.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.8K $30.8K

$28.9K $28.9K

6.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

-2.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 $125

$206 $206

-39.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.69 $44.69

$59.9 $59.9

-25.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$69.4 $69.4

2.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.05 $43.05

$18.06 $18.06

138.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.18 $15.18

-2.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$689 $689

$1,302 $1,302

-47.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$32.5K $32.5K

-32.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$54.3 $54.3

4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 $53.4

$39.29 $39.29

35.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 $94.3

$79.4 $79.4

18.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$121 $121

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$1,530 $1,530

15.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 $1,294

$1,376 $1,376

-5.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,505 $2,505

$2,664 $2,664

-5.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,162 $2,162

$3,346 $3,346

-35.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,098 $2,098

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,092 $2,092

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,798 $5,798

$6,991 $6,991

-17.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.58

-0.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dover, DE: May 31, 2026

Last update for Springfield, VA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,766 in Dover, DE versus $1,530 in Springfield, VA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Springfield, VA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Dover, DE versus $100 in Springfield, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $434 in Dover, DE vs $380 in Springfield, VA – so Springfield, VA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dover, DE vs Springfield, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield, VA costs about 6% more than Dover, DE, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,673 per month in Dover, DE and $3,878 in Springfield, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dover, DE, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Dover, DE and $100 in Springfield, VA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Springfield, VA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dover, DE, where all-in costs run around $2,449, than in Springfield, VA at $2,585. In Dover, DE it covers expenses comfortably, while in Springfield, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dover, DE – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Dover, DE. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Springfield, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.