Cost of Living Comparison Between Northampton, MA and Dover, DE Cost of Living Comparison Between Northampton, MA and Dover, DE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,968 per month in Northampton, MA vs $2,449 in Dover, DE, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,276 per month in Northampton, MA vs $3,559 in Dover, DE, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,584 per month in Northampton, MA vs $4,669 in Dover, DE, rent included.

Northampton, MA costs about 21% more than Dover, DE, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Northampton, MA and Dover, DE sit above the global median – Northampton, MA by 121%, Dover, DE by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.18 $17.18

$12.82 $12.82

34.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$61.0 $61.0

31.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 $9.64

$10.32 $10.32

-6.59%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$4.86 $4.86

-6.58%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$2.21 $2.21

4.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.24 $2.24

-30.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.06 $5.06

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 $6.11

$7.58 $7.58

-19.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.99 $0.99

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.18 $2.18

78.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.14 $5.14

8.95%

Eggs

$5.42 $5.42

$4.03 $4.03

34.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.87 $13.87

$12.19 $12.19

13.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.51 $14.51

$11.58 $11.58

25.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.33 $17.33

$25.23 $25.23

-31.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$6.59 $6.59

-30.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.11 $1.11

27.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$5.49 $5.49

-36.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$5.69 $5.69

-12.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$4.10 $4.10

-25.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.13 $3.13

-8.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.82 $1.82

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.41 $2.41

-26.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 $14.81

$8.31 $8.31

78.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.38 $16.38

$17.28 $17.28

-5.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.91 $1.91

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.30 $3.30

-39.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.98 $1.98

2.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.78 $2.78

75.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.42 $1.42

47.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 $27.07

$25.40 $25.40

6.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.83 $0.83

3.61%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$30.8K $30.8K

-2.51%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

0.00%

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

$132 $132

$125 $125

5.90%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$44.69 $44.69

29.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.4 $77.4

$71.1 $71.1

8.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 $52.3

$43.05 $43.05

21.44%

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$14.80 $14.80

0.68%

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

$1,421 $1,421

$689 $689

106.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$22.0K $22.0K

25.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.20 $23.20

$56.6 $56.6

-58.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.31 $45.31

$53.4 $53.4

-15.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 $81.8

$94.3 $94.3

-13.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$117 $117

-10.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,076 $2,076

$1,766 $1,766

17.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$1,294 $1,294

33.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,672 $2,672

$2,505 $2,505

6.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,798 $2,798

$2,162 $2,162

29.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,098 $2,098

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,802 $2,802

$2,092 $2,092

33.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,952 $3,952

$5,798 $5,798

-31.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Northampton, MA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dover, DE: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,076 in Northampton, MA versus $1,766 in Dover, DE. 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 47% higher in Dover, DE, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Northampton, MA versus $61.0 in Dover, DE. Groceries tell a different story – $425 in Northampton, MA vs $434 in Dover, DE – so Northampton, MA 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

Northampton, MA vs Dover, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Northampton, MA costs about 21% more than Dover, DE, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,452 per month in Northampton, MA and $3,673 in Dover, DE. 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 $80.0 in Northampton, MA and $61.0 in Dover, DE. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Northampton, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,968 in Northampton, MA and $2,449 in Dover, DE. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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