Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 25% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$841
+35% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$849
+33% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,031
+40% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,193
+40% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$172,000
+57% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$51,888
+25% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$51,160
+15% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
32.2 yr
+5.5 yr in Milwaukee, WI
Homeownership
39.8%
41.5%
+1.7 pp in Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
26.6%
+33.9 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
22.4 min
+3.2 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
1,452.3
+192% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,772.2
+37% 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
47.9°F
+1.9°F in Milwaukee, WI
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
34.8 in
+2.1 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
19.7
+21% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$11.79
+42% 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 Milwaukee, WI
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 / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
7.65%
+1.1 pp in VT

Burlington vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Milwaukee?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).