Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 5% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$992
+23% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$964
+24% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,206
+30% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,421
+29% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$225,500
+44% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$65,526
+5% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$47,570
+21% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
32.1 yr
+5.4 yr in Grand Rapids, MI
Homeownership
39.8%
54.6%
+14.8 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
40.1%
+20.4 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
19.4 min
+0.2 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
910.1
+83% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,506.2
+43% 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
49.1°F
+3.1°F in Grand Rapids, MI
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
38.3 in
+1.5 in in Grand Rapids, MI

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
23.0
+6% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$19.72
+24% 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 Rapids, MI
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 / MI)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.25%
+4.5 pp in VT

Burlington vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% 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 Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Grand Rapids?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Grand Rapids under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).