Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 16% higher in Raleigh, NC. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,301
+1% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,323
+4% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,462
+16% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,715
+14% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$377,800
+6% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$82,424
+20% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$51,990
+13% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
34.7 yr
+8.0 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
39.8%
51.2%
+11.4 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
52.9%
+7.6 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
23.4 min
+4.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
491.5
+1% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,838.4
+36% 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
60.6°F
+14.6°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
46.0 in
+9.2 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
15.1
+39% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$27.56
+36% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
3.99%
+4.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Raleigh?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Raleigh?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).