Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/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 $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA — about 1% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Cedar Rapids, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$659
+49% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$716
+44% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$997
+42% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,335
+33% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$177,100
+56% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$67,859
+1% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,360
+18% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
36.9 yr
+10.2 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
39.8%
68.2%
+28.4 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
32.9%
+27.6 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
18.2 min
+1.0 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
264.5
+47% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,726
+38% 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
48.2°F
+2.2°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
34.6 in
+2.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
15.9
+35% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$22.16
+15% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / IA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
3.80%
+5.0 pp in VT

Burlington vs Cedar Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Cedar Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $29,000 in Cedar Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Cedar Rapids?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Cedar Rapids under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).