Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 30% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,284
+28% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,275
+21% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,731
+21% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$2,002
+3% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$400,200
+6% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$68,854
+30% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$60,020
+0% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
26.7 yr
+8.2 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
39.8%
+23.9 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
60.5%
+22.8 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.0 min
19.2 min
+0.2 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
497.1
+51% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
4,408.9
+58% in 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
37.4°F
46.0°F
+8.6°F in Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
36.8 in
+18.9 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
24.9
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$20.31
+41% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in 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 (AK / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Anchorage vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Burlington?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Burlington?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); 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).