Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Denver?

Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Denver?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 25% higher in Denver, 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

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,497

+17% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,583

+24% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,958

+13% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$2,269

+13% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$586,700

+47% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$91,681

+33% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$62,320

+4% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

35.2 yr

+8.5 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

39.8%

49.1%

+9.3 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

55.6%

+4.9 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

25.4 min

+6.2 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

999.3

+101% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,408.9

4,781.1

+8% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+4.2°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

15.6 in

+21.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Denver, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTD (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 Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Denver, 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)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

4.40%

+4.3 pp in VT

Burlington vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Denver?: Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Denver?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Denver 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).