Is $86,000 a good salary in Delaware?

$86,000 in Delaware provides a monthly take-home of approximately $5,374 after taxes. Across major Delaware cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $3,068.

What is the cost of living on $86,000 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 $86,000 take-home pay of $5,374/month, you would have roughly $3,068/month remaining.

Living in Delaware · 2026

Is $86,000 enough to live in Delaware?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$5,374

Avg monthly expenses

$2,306

Avg monthly surplus

$3,068

Savings potential

~57%

After-tax take-home in Delaware

Gross salary$86,000

Federal income tax− $10,274

State income tax− $4,660

Social Security− $5,332

Medicare− $1,247

Annual take-home$64,487

Effective tax rate25.02%

How $86,000 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

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$462

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,379/mo

Surplus: $2,995/mo

Rent burden: 25.1% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Wilmington analysis →

Dover

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$471

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,454/mo

Surplus: $2,920/mo

Rent burden: 26.1% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Dover analysis →

Newark

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$594

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,450/mo

Surplus: $2,924/mo

Rent burden: 24.2% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Newark analysis →

Middletown

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$440

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,230/mo

Surplus: $3,144/mo

Rent burden: 23.3% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Middletown analysis →

Smyrna

COL index: 0.97× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,180

Food

$427

Transport

$170

Utilities

$160

Healthcare

$194

Total: $2,131/mo

Surplus: $3,243/mo

Rent burden: 22.0% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Smyrna analysis →

Milford

COL index: 0.99× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,220

Food

$440

Transport

$173

Utilities

$163

Healthcare

$198

Total: $2,194/mo

Surplus: $3,180/mo

Rent burden: 22.7% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Milford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $5,374 ($64,488/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$2,687

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,612

per month

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

Savings20%

$1,075

per month

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

Needs / year

$32,244

Wants / year

$19,346

Savings / year

$12,898

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Wilmington

Rent takes 25% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.2/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $86,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Wilmington, Delaware, with approximately $2,995/month (~56% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Wilmington is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.05). $86,000 here is roughly equivalent to $151,524 in San Francisco or $72,076 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$86,000 is 86% above the Delaware individual median of $46,200 and 54% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$46,200

+86%

State household median

$79,325

+8%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$86,000 vs. Delaware income benchmarks

Individual median (Delaware)

$46,200

+86% vs. this salary

Household median (Delaware)

$79,325

+8% 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.