Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 3% higher in Huntsville, AL. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$815
+37% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$900
+29% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,080
+38% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,251
+38% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$263,100
+34% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$70,778
+3% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$51,740
+14% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
36.4 yr
+9.7 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
39.8%
58.1%
+18.3 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
46.2%
+14.3 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
19.3 min
+0.1 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
483.2
+3% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,395.7
+46% 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
62.1°F
+16.1°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
54.3 in
+17.5 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
16.4
+33% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$24.06
+8% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Huntsville, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
5.00%
+3.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Huntsville?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).