Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Dover, DE: $2,593 a month against $2,841 in Northampton, MA, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Northampton, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

138

Cost of Living Index in Northampton, MA
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Northampton, MA Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Dover, DE
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Dover, DE Living Index

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Northampton, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,841

/mo nomad

Dover, DE

🇺🇸 United States

$2,593

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Northampton, MA and in Dover, DE

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Northampton, MA and in Dover, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,841 per month in Northampton, MA vs $2,593 in Dover, DE, rent included.

Northampton, MA $2,841
Dover, DE $2,593

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Northampton, MA vs $3,781 in Dover, DE, rent included.

Northampton, MA $4,134
Dover, DE $3,781

A family of three spends $5,427 per month in Northampton, MA vs $4,970 in Dover, DE, rent included.

Northampton, MA $5,427
Dover, DE $4,970

Northampton, MA costs about 10% more than Dover, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Northampton, MA and Dover, DE sit above the global median – Northampton, MA by 109%, Dover, DE by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.78 $17.78

$13.16 $13.16

35.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$59.9 $59.9

31.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 $10.69

$10.58 $10.58

1.04%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$4.93 $4.93

-6.69%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.31 $2.31

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.21 $2.21

2.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.96 $4.96

2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.13 $8.13

-3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.96 $0.96

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.82 $2.82

43.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$2.66 $2.66

104.51%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.97 $4.97

-4.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$12.23 $12.23

-8.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$14.54 $14.54

-53.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.52 $17.52

$18.90 $18.90

-7.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$4.92 $4.92

19.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.12 $1.12

42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$6.19 $6.19

-28.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 $5.41

$5.18 $5.18

4.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.11 $3.11

3.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.02 $2.02

87.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.74 $1.74

75.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.80 $13.80

$8.59 $8.59

60.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.27 $13.27

$14.78 $14.78

-10.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.72 $1.72

6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$4.99 $4.99

-59.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.98 $0.98

-12.24%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$27.6K $27.6K

-0.11%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.5K $26.5K

-4.38%

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

$131 $131

$219 $219

-40.06%

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

$62.0 $62.0

$49.94 $49.94

24.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$71.3 $71.3

1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 $51.6

$121 $121

-57.15%

Cinema Ticket

$14.45 $14.45

$17.07 $17.07

-15.35%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$687 $687

164.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K $29.5K

$21.5K $21.5K

36.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.49 $23.49

$47.92 $47.92

-50.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.76 $38.76

$35.92 $35.92

7.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 $79.2

$110 $110

-27.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$201 $201

-49.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 $2,048

$1,692 $1,692

21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$1,251 $1,251

38.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,608 $2,608

$2,353 $2,353

10.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,862 $2,862

$2,110 $2,110

35.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,146 $2,146

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,821 $2,821

$2,180 $2,180

29.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,930 $3,930

$5,760 $5,760

-31.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.72

-1.19%

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

Last update for Northampton, MA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dover, DE: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Northampton, MA

$1.7K 60.9%

Dover, DE

$1.3K 48.3% 27.7% $479

Groceries & Markets

Northampton, MA

$365 * 12.8%

Dover, DE

$415 16% 13.7% $50

Eating Out

Northampton, MA

$291 10.2%

Dover, DE

$255 9.8% 12.3% $36

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Northampton, MA

$266 9.4%

Dover, DE

$340 13.1% 28% $74

Clothing & Footwear

Northampton, MA

$109 3.8%

Dover, DE

$177 6.8% 62.5% $68

Sport & Entertainment

Northampton, MA

$81 2.8%

Dover, DE

$155 6% 92.1% $74

Getting Around

Northampton, MA

- * 0%

Dover, DE

- * 0%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,048 in Northampton, MA versus $1,692 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 $79 in Northampton, MA versus $60 in Dover, DE. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Northampton, MA vs $415 in Dover, DE – so Northampton, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Northampton, MA

🇺🇸 Dover, DE

🕒 Local time

17:20 5:20 PM

Same time as Northampton, MA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

28,549

34,735

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Northampton, MA Dover, DE 430 km

From you

Northampton, MA
Dover, DE

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 10% more than Dover, DE, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $4,262 per month in Northampton, MA and $3,890 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,692 there versus $2,048 in Northampton, MA.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Northampton, MA and $60 in Dover, DE. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Northampton, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,841 in Northampton, MA and $2,593 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.