Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Jacksonville?

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Jacksonville?

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

Burlington vs Jacksonville Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 3% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,127

+12% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,146

+10% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,385

+20% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,545

+23% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$266,100

+34% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$66,981

+3% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$48,830

+19% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

36.4 yr

+9.7 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

39.8%

57.4%

+17.6 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

31.8%

+28.7 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

24.1 min

+4.9 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

558.4

+12% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

4,408.9

2,600.1

+41% 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

70.2°F

+24.2°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

49.2 in

+12.4 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.77/gal

+2% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

15.2

+39% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$23.62

+16% in Jacksonville, FL

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 Jacksonville, FL

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 / FL)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

None

+8.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Jacksonville?: Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Jacksonville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Jacksonville?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax 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).