Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 32% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$750
+42% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$857
+33% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,114
+36% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,240
+38% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$120,600
+70% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$46,628
+32% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$51,210
+15% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
33.5 yr
+6.8 yr in Rochester, NY
Homeownership
39.8%
37.2%
+2.6 pp in Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
29.9%
+30.6 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
18.9 min
+0.3 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
690
+39% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,533.4
+20% 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
48.2°F
+2.2°F in Rochester, NY
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
34.3 in
+2.5 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.04/gal
+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
29.9
+20% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$22.74
+12% in Rochester, NY

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 / NY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
10.90%
+2.2 pp in NY

Burlington vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).