Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in Burlington, VT versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 24% higher in Charleston, SC. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,579
+23% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,430
+12% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,684
+3% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$2,076
+4% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$469,100
+17% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$90,038
+31% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,150
+18% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
36.1 yr
+9.4 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
39.8%
55.6%
+15.8 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
57.7%
+2.8 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
23.8 min
+4.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
358.8
+28% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,035.1
+54% 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
66.7°F
+20.7°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
44.4 in
+7.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
16.2
+35% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$27.35
+35% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / SC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
6.00%
+2.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Charleston?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Charleston?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).