Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 5% higher in Omaha, NE. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$908
+29% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$984
+23% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,193
+31% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,437
+28% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$230,100
+43% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$72,708
+6% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,660
+17% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
35.3 yr
+8.6 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
39.8%
57.7%
+17.9 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
40.3%
+20.2 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
19.6 min
+0.4 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
359
+28% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,153.5
+28% 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
51.1°F
+5.1°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
30.6 in
+6.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Omaha, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
13.6
+45% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$15.53
+24% 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 Omaha, NE
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 / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.55%
+4.2 pp in VT

Burlington vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Omaha?
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 Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Omaha?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).