Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 46% higher in Cambridge, MA. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$2,236
+74% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$2,496
+96% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$2,980
+72% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$3,325
+66% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$1,040,500
+160% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$126,469
+84% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$66,620
+11% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
30.5 yr
+3.8 yr in Cambridge, MA
Homeownership
39.8%
33.7%
+6.1 pp in Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
80.2%
+19.7 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
19.2 min
26.1 min
+6.9 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
436.7
+12% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,657.6
+40% 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
46.0°F
51.5°F
+5.5°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
43.8 in
+7.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.07/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
29.6
+21% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$30.66
+18% in Cambridge, 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 (VT / MA)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
9.00%
+0.3 pp in MA

Burlington vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Cambridge?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Cambridge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Cambridge?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).