Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 13% higher in Mesa, AZ. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,209
+6% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,288
+1% in Mesa, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,458
+16% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,819
+9% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$364,300
+9% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$78,779
+14% in Mesa, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$51,380
+14% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
37.2 yr
+10.5 yr in Mesa, AZ
Homeownership
39.8%
64.4%
+24.6 pp in Mesa, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
31.5%
+29.0 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
25.0 min
+5.8 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
486.2
+2% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
1,488
+66% 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
75.1°F
+29.1°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
8.0 in
+28.8 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.09/gal
+32% in Mesa, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
15.2
+39% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$22.44
+10% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Mesa, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Mesa, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Mesa, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.50%
+6.3 pp in VT

Burlington vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Mesa?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Mesa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Mesa?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).