Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 8% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$825
+36% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$870
+32% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,000
+42% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,237
+38% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$271,400
+32% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$74,714
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$47,970
+20% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
35.1 yr
+8.4 yr in Sioux Falls, SD
Homeownership
39.8%
60.0%
+20.2 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
37.4%
+23.1 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
17.0 min
+2.2 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
526.7
+6% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,927.1
+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
45.8°F
+0.2°F in Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
26.4 in
+10.4 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
15.7
+37% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$10.95
+46% 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 Sioux Falls, SD
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 / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
None
+8.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Sioux Falls?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).