Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 6% higher in St. Paul, 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$995
+23% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,126
+12% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,384
+20% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,662
+17% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$280,300
+30% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$73,055
+6% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$59,320
+1% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
33.5 yr
+6.8 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
39.8%
53.2%
+13.4 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
43.5%
+17.0 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
22.3 min
+3.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
619
+25% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,897.2
+34% 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
47.1°F
+1.1°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
28.5 in
+8.3 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or St. Paul?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).