Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Chicago?

Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $50,000 in Chicago.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Chicago?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Chicago Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 8% higher in Chicago, IL. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,186

+8% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,258

+1% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,406

+19% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,554

+22% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$315,200

+21% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$75,134

+9% in Chicago, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$54,720

+9% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

35.7 yr

+9.0 yr in Chicago, IL

Homeownership

39.8%

45.5%

+5.7 pp in Chicago, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

43.3%

+17.2 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

33.5 min

+14.3 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

539.8

+9% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

4,408.9

3,489.9

+21% 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

52.7°F

+6.7°F in Chicago, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

38.0 in

+1.1 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.29/gal

+11% in Chicago, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

23.9

+4% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$15.39

+24% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Chicago, IL

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 / IL)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

4.95%

+3.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Chicago?: Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Chicago?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Chicago?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).