Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 7% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$784
+39% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$761
+40% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$947
+45% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,371
+32% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$243,300
+39% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$63,838
+7% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,760
+17% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
29.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Grand Forks, ND
Homeownership
39.8%
46.5%
+6.7 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
39.2%
+21.3 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
14.8 min
+4.4 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
360.3
+28% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,290.6
+48% 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
40.0°F
+6.0°F in Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
20.8 in
+16.0 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
14.1
+42% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$18.21
+30% in Burlington, VT

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 Grand Forks, ND
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 / ND)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.50%
+6.3 pp in VT

Burlington vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Grand Forks?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).