Is Burlington expensive to live in?

Burlington is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,275 per month ranks #32 of 112 and is 18% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Burlington?

Average rent in Burlington, VT runs a studio around $1,284, a one-bedroom around $1,275, a two-bedroom around $1,731, a three-bedroom around $2,002 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Burlington?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,275 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year. The median household income here is $68,854.

How much does it cost to live in Burlington per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Burlington is about $1,530 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Burlington, VT

Population 44,649 · Vermont

~$1,530/mo est.1BR $1,275Home $400,200

Compare with:

The cost of living in Burlington, VT is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,275 a month — 18% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,284 and two-bedrooms $1,731.

Median household income here is $68,854, about the same as the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,530 before food and transport. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,275

Studio

$1,284

1 Bedroom

$1,275

2 Bedroom

$1,731

3 Bedroom

$2,002

Buying a Home$400,200

Median Home Value

$400,200

Income$68,854

Median Household Income

$68,854

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities24.9¢/kWh

Electricity

24.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.31/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (VT)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 8.75%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime497.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

497.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,408.9

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Burlington Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 26.7 yrs

Median Age

26.7 yrs

Homeownership

39.8%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

Avg Commute

19.2 min

Climate46.0°F

Avg Annual Temperature

46.0°F

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

Burlington cost of living — FAQ

Is Burlington expensive to live in?: Burlington is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,275 per month ranks #32 of 112 and is 18% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Burlington?: Average rent in Burlington, VT runs a studio around $1,284, a one-bedroom around $1,275, a two-bedroom around $1,731, a three-bedroom around $2,002 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Burlington?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,275 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year. The median household income here is $68,854.
How much does it cost to live in Burlington per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Burlington is about $1,530 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Burlington with nearby cities

Burlington vs Manchester Burlington vs Portland Burlington vs Boston Burlington vs Providence Burlington vs Bridgeport Burlington vs Rochester

Nearby cities

Manchester, NH 135 mi Portland, ME 157 mi Boston, MA 182 mi Providence, RI 204 mi Bridgeport, CT 227 mi Rochester, NY 237 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.