Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 27% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$1,284
+32% in Boston, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$1,275
+36% in Boston, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$1,731
+20% in Boston, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$2,002
+10% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$400,200
+44% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$68,854
+27% in Boston, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$60,020
+10% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
26.7 yr
+6.5 yr in Boston, MA
Homeownership
35.4%
39.8%
+4.4 pp in Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
60.5%
+6.4 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
30.2 min
19.2 min
+11.0 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
497.1
+21% in Boston, MA
Property Crime
2,030.8
4,408.9
+117% 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
51.5°F
46.0°F
+5.5°F in Boston, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
36.8 in
+7.0 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.8
24.9
+14% in Boston, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.39
$20.31
+35% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / VT)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
8.75%
+0.3 pp in MA

Boston vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Burlington?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Burlington?
Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).