Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, South Burlington, VT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 7% higher in South Burlington, VT. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,557
+19% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,533
+13% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,805
+17% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$2,356
+11% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$399,600
+48% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$97,229
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$60,020
+7% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
38.8 yr
+2.9 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
45.9%
60.1%
+14.2 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
65.1%
+36.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
28.2 min
18.9 min
+9.3 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
239.4
+60% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
4,446
+99% in South Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
46.0°F
+21.1°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
36.8 in
+23.4 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
24.4
+30% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$26.07
+28% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
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 (CA / VT)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
8.75%
+4.6 pp in CA

Anaheim vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or South Burlington?
South Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or South Burlington?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).