Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Eugene?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Eugene?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Burlington vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 7% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,011

+21% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,080

+15% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,411

+18% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,674

+16% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$435,400

+9% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$63,836

+7% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$49,680

+17% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

35.4 yr

+8.7 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

39.8%

47.6%

+7.8 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

44.2%

+16.3 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

18.6 min

+0.6 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

319.6

+36% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

4,408.9

3,348.9

+24% 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

52.5°F

+6.5°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

46.1 in

+9.3 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Eugene, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

16.3

+35% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$20.59

+1% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Eugene, OR

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 / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

9.90%

+1.2 pp in OR

Burlington vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Eugene?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Eugene?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).