Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Newark?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 30% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,111

+13% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$978

+23% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,386

+20% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,695

+15% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$337,800

+16% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$48,416

+30% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$61,430

+2% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

34.8 yr

+8.1 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

39.8%

24.1%

+15.7 pp in Burlington, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

17.4%

+43.1 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

33.2 min

+14.0 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

582.5

+17% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

4,408.9

1,961.8

+56% 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

54.9°F

+8.9°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

46.3 in

+9.4 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

23.3

+7% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$15.93

+22% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / NJ)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

10.75%

+2.0 pp in NJ

Burlington vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Newark?: 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 Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Newark?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).