Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Dover, DE: $2,593 a month against $2,924 in Springfield, VA, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Springfield, VA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Springfield, VA, United States
Dover, DE, United States
Springfield, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,924
/mo nomad
Dover, DE
🇺🇸 United States
$2,593
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Springfield, VA 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 Springfield, VA and in Dover, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,924 per month in Springfield, VA vs $2,593 in Dover, DE, rent included.

  • Springfield, VA $2,924
  • Dover, DE $2,593

A couple spends around $4,643 per month in Springfield, VA vs $3,781 in Dover, DE, rent included.

  • Springfield, VA $4,643
  • Dover, DE $3,781

A family of three spends $6,361 per month in Springfield, VA vs $4,970 in Dover, DE, rent included.

  • Springfield, VA $6,361
  • Dover, DE $4,970

Springfield, VA costs about 13% more than Dover, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Springfield, VA and Dover, DE sit above the global median – Springfield, VA by 115%, Dover, DE by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.10 $18.10
$13.16 $13.16
37.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.5 $94.5
$59.9 $59.9
57.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 $10.79
$10.58 $10.58
1.98%
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$4.93 $4.93
6.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.31 $2.31
35.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.21 $2.21
19.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.21 $7.21
$4.96 $4.96
45.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$8.13 $8.13
-0.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.96 $0.96
20.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.82 $2.82
41.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$2.66 $2.66
57.89%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$4.97 $4.97
-1.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 $12.86
$12.23 $12.23
5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$14.54 $14.54
-11.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.22 $18.22
$18.90 $18.90
-3.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.92 $4.92
20.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.12 $1.12
34.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$6.19 $6.19
-19.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$5.18 $5.18
-3.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.11 $3.11
-11.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.02 $2.02
44.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.74 $1.74
36.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.51 $2.51
-6.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.50 $13.50
$8.59 $8.59
57.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$14.78 $14.78
6.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.72 $1.72
47.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.99 $4.99
-20.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 $1.85
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.28 $24.28
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.98 $0.98
10.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K $34.3K
$27.6K $27.6K
24.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.5K $26.5K
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$219 $219
-1.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.7 $74.7
$49.94 $49.94
49.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.8 $76.8
$71.3 $71.3
7.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.23 $18.23
$121 $121
-84.87%
Cinema Ticket
$14.61 $14.61
$17.07 $17.07
-14.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,958 $1,958
$687 $687
185.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.8K $34.8K
$21.5K $21.5K
61.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 $54.1
$47.92 $47.92
12.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 $43.96
$35.92 $35.92
22.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$110 $110
-16.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$201 $201
-43.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 $1,565
$1,692 $1,692
-7.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 $1,617
$1,251 $1,251
29.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,773 $2,773
$2,353 $2,353
17.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,410 $3,410
$2,110 $2,110
61.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,146 $2,146
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 $2,180
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, VA
Dover, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,040 $7,040
$5,760 $5,760
22.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
6.72
-

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

Last update for Springfield, VA: 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
Springfield, VA
$1.6K
Dover, DE
$1.3K 22.6% $366
Groceries & Markets
Springfield, VA
$433
Dover, DE
$415 4.2% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, VA
$367
Dover, DE
$340 7.3% $27
Eating Out
Springfield, VA
$315
Dover, DE
$255 19.1% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, VA
$136
Dover, DE
$177 30.4% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, VA
$47
Dover, DE
$155 226% $107
Getting Around
Springfield, VA
$8.8 *
Dover, DE
- * 100%

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,565 in Springfield, VA 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 22% higher in Springfield, VA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95 in Springfield, VA versus $60 in Dover, DE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $415 – making Dover, DE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Springfield, VA
🇺🇸 Dover, DE
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
04:00 4:00 AM
Same time as Springfield, VA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,482
34,735
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Springfield, VA Dover, DE 150 km
From you
  • Springfield, VA
  • 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
Springfield, VA vs Dover, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Springfield, VA or Dover, DE?
Springfield, VA costs about 13% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Springfield, VA and in Dover, DE?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,387 per month in Springfield, VA and $3,890 in Dover, DE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Springfield, VA compared to Dover, DE?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,565 in Springfield, VA and $1,692 in Dover, DE. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Springfield, VA and in Dover, DE?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $95 in Springfield, VA and $60 in Dover, DE. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Springfield, VA or in Dover, DE?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Springfield, VA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Springfield, VA or in Dover, DE?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,924 in Springfield, VA and $2,593 in Dover, DE. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Springfield, VA or Dover, DE?
It depends on your priorities. Dover, DE has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,593 in Dover, DE to $2,924 in Springfield, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Springfield, VA or to Dover, DE?
If budget matters most, go with Dover, DE. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Springfield, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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