Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Burlington?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Burlington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $51,000 in Burlington.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Burlington?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Burlington Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 19% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio

—

$1,284

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,275

+12% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,731

+24% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$2,002

+14% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$400,200

+42% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$68,854

+19% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$60,020

+4% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

26.7 yr

+8.6 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

39.8%

+6.2 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

60.5%

+19.1 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

18.7 min

19.2 min

+0.5 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

497.1

+48% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

4,408.9

+31% 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

50.2°F

46.0°F

+4.2°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

36.8 in

+21.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.86/gal

+9% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

24.9

+54% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$20.31

+70% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

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 (CO / VT)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

8.75%

+4.3 pp in VT

Aurora vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Burlington?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Burlington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Burlington?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).