Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 22% higher in Rochester, MN. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,080
+16% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,106
+13% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,243
+28% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,646
+18% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$287,500
+28% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$87,767
+27% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$60,620
+1% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
36.4 yr
+9.7 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
39.8%
65.4%
+25.6 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
50.1%
+10.4 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
17.2 min
+2.0 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
158.9
+68% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
1,379
+69% 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
45.4°F
+0.6°F in Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
33.0 in
+3.8 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
16.9
+32% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$14.95
+26% 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 Rochester, MN
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 / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
9.85%
+1.1 pp in MN

Burlington vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Rochester?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).