Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 17% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$998
+22% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,305
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,504
+13% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,881
+6% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$420,700
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$83,198
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$52,710
+12% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
35.6 yr
+8.9 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
39.8%
61.3%
+21.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
41.9%
+18.6 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
22.8 min
+3.6 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
722.1
+45% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,488.7
+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
49.0°F
+3.0°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
16.5 in
+20.3 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.25/gal
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
16.2
+35% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$11.92
+41% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.40%
+4.3 pp in VT

Burlington vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Colorado Springs?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).