Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 9% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$933
+27% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$963
+24% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,132
+35% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,304
+35% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$207,000
+48% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$62,995
+9% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,340
+18% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
34.1 yr
+7.4 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
39.8%
55.3%
+15.5 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
34.2%
+26.3 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
24.3 min
+5.1 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
936.6
+88% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,351.7
+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
53.2°F
+7.2°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
42.4 in
+5.6 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs IndyGo (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
18.1
+27% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$13.70
+33% 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 Indianapolis, IN
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 / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.95%
+5.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Indianapolis?
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 Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Indianapolis?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).