Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Naperville?

Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Naperville?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 54% higher in Naperville, IL. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,713

+33% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,594

+25% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,889

+9% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$2,446

+22% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$509,900

+27% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$150,937

+119% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$54,720

+9% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

40.1 yr

+13.4 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

39.8%

74.3%

+34.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

71.7%

+11.2 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

19.2 min

31.4 min

+12.2 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

85.7

+83% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

4,408.9

892.2

+80% 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

49.9°F

+3.9°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

36.9 in

+0.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

23.9

+4% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$15.39

+24% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

4.95%

+3.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Naperville?: Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Naperville?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).