Is $36,000 a good salary in Delaware?

$36,000 in Delaware provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,452 after taxes. Across major Delaware cities, this salary is rated manageable, with an average monthly surplus of $146.

What is the cost of living on $36,000 in Delaware?

The average monthly living cost across major Delaware cities is approximately $2,306 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $36,000 take-home pay of $2,452/month, you would have roughly $146/month remaining.

Living in Delaware · 2026

Is $36,000 enough to live in Delaware?

Single adult · DE · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$2,452

Avg monthly expenses

$2,306

Avg monthly surplus

$146

Savings potential

~6%

After-tax take-home in Delaware

Gross salary$36,000

Federal income tax− $2,214

State income tax− $1,612

Social Security− $2,232

Medicare− $522

Annual take-home$29,420

Effective tax rate18.28%

How $36,000 feels in Delaware cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Wilmington

COL index: 1.05× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$462

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,379/mo

Surplus: $73/mo

Rent burden: 55.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Wilmington analysis →

Dover

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$471

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,454/mo

Surplus: $-2/mo

Rent burden: 57.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Dover analysis →

Newark

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$594

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,450/mo

Surplus: $2/mo

Rent burden: 53.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Newark analysis →

Middletown

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$440

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,230/mo

Surplus: $222/mo

Rent burden: 51.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Middletown analysis →

Smyrna

COL index: 0.97× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,180

Food

$427

Transport

$170

Utilities

$160

Healthcare

$194

Total: $2,131/mo

Surplus: $321/mo

Rent burden: 48.1% — High (35–50%)

Full Smyrna analysis →

Milford

COL index: 0.99× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,220

Food

$440

Transport

$173

Utilities

$163

Healthcare

$198

Total: $2,194/mo

Surplus: $258/mo

Rent burden: 49.8% — High (35–50%)

Full Milford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,452 ($29,424/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,226

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$736

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$490

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$14,712

Wants / year

$8,827

Savings / year

$5,885

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Wilmington

Rent alone would take 55% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $54,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.5/10 (Challenging)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $36,000 salary can cover essential living costs for a single adult in Wilmington, Delaware, but leaves little room for savings (~3% of take-home). Lifestyle is rated challenging, with careful budgeting required to avoid month-to-month shortfalls.

Purchasing Power

Wilmington is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.05). $36,000 here is roughly equivalent to $63,429 in San Francisco or $30,171 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$36,000 is 22% below the Delaware individual median of $46,200. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$46,200

-22%

State household median

$79,325

-55%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$36,000 vs. Delaware income benchmarks

Individual median (Delaware)

$46,200

-22% vs. this salary

Household median (Delaware)

$79,325

-55% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Delaware

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.