Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/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 $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 16% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,284
+23% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,275
+19% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,731
+2% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$2,002
+29% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$400,200
+5% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$68,854
+16% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$60,020
+17% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
26.7 yr
+7.3 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
39.8%
+6.5 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
60.5%
+2.1 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
26.8 min
19.2 min
+7.6 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
497.1
+18% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
4,408.9
+24% 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
62.6°F
46.0°F
+16.6°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
36.8 in
+12.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
24.9
+57% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$20.31
+39% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / VT)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
8.75%
+3.6 pp in VT

Atlanta vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Burlington?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Burlington?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).