Delaware vs. South Dakota Cost of Living Summary

Delaware is 21.2% more expensive than South Dakota.

Restaurants
pay 2.9% more in Delaware
Groceries
pay 9.8% more in Delaware
Transportation
pay 10.0% more in Delaware
Housing
pay 29.5% more in Delaware
Childcare
pay 2.9 times more in Delaware
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.1% more in Delaware
Clothing
pay 1.0% less in Delaware

The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, groceries, and restaurants in Delaware are more expensive than in South Dakota. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Delaware.

Delaware vs. South Dakota Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Delaware instead of South Dakota, you would:

pay 2.9% more for restaurants

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $13.00
 
$15.62
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.33
 
$9.25
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.53
 
$2.43
 

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pay 9.8% more for groceries

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Bread
1 loaf
$2.80
 
$3.09
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.94
 
$5.97
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.55
 
$4.37
 

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pay 10.0% more for transportation

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.52
 
$3.72
 
Monthly public transit pass $30.00
 
$60.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,246.50
 
$26,250.00
 

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pay 29.5% more for housing

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.99
 
$64.17
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,145.83
 
$1,684.22
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,105.14
 
$1,427.86
 

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pay 2.9 times more for childcare

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $833.31
 
$1,612.46
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $7,800.00
 
$34,233.33
 

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pay 18.1% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.00
 
$4.75
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.71
 
$5.12
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.54
 
$11.92
 

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pay 1.0% less for clothing

 
South Dakota
Delaware
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$46.56
 
$44.46
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$43.33
 
$39.92
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$91.03
 
$89.94
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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