Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 10% higher in Portland, ME. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,038
+19% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,331
+4% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,664
+4% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,919
+4% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$452,600
+13% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$76,174
+11% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$56,960
+5% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
37.5 yr
+10.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
39.8%
46.7%
+6.9 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
59.2%
+1.3 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
19.9 min
+0.7 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
272.7
+45% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,513.3
+43% 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
46.5°F
+0.5°F in Portland, ME
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
47.3 in
+10.4 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
28.6
+15% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$21.00
+3% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
7.15%
+1.6 pp in VT

Burlington vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Portland?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Portland?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% 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).