Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 33% higher in South Burlington, VT. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,557
+95% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,533
+72% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,805
+58% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$2,356
+61% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$399,600
+50% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$97,229
+48% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$60,020
+25% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
38.8 yr
+0.1 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
61.5%
60.1%
+1.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
65.1%
+26.4 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.9 min
+3.3 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
239.4
+80% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
4,446
+7% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
46.0°F
+11.2°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
36.8 in
+27.4 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.4
+62% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$26.07
+180% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / VT)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
8.75%
+2.8 pp in VT

Albuquerque vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or South Burlington?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or South Burlington?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).