Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 43% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$678
+47% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$732
+43% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$903
+48% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,081
+46% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$94,100
+76% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$39,187
+43% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$50,140
+16% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
36.3 yr
+9.6 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
39.8%
41.2%
+1.4 pp in Cleveland, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
21.3%
+39.2 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
22.9 min
+3.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
1,582
+218% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,408.9
4,531.3
+3% in Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
36.4 in
+0.5 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
19.5
+22% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$22.83
+12% in Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland, OH
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 / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.75%
+6.0 pp in VT

Burlington vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Cleveland?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Cleveland?
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 Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Cleveland?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).