Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 30% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$756
+41% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$843
+34% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$978
+44% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,136
+43% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$178,100
+55% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$48,465
+30% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$44,820
+25% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
37.5 yr
+10.8 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
39.8%
53.8%
+14.0 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
27.5%
+33.0 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
19.0 min
+0.2 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
1,235.4
+149% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
4,408.9
4,048.2
+8% 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
65.5°F
+19.5°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
51.0 in
+14.1 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
14.2
+43% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$16.62
+18% in Burlington, VT

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 Shreveport, LA
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 / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
3.00%
+5.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Shreveport?
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 Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Shreveport?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).