Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 33% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$760
+41% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$772
+39% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$926
+47% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,158
+42% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$165,200
+59% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$45,984
+33% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$45,780
+24% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
33.6 yr
+6.9 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
39.8%
42.9%
+3.1 pp in Springfield, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
30.3%
+30.2 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
18.0 min
+1.2 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
1,189.8
+139% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
4,408.9
4,231.6
+4% 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
56.3°F
+10.3°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
45.6 in
+8.8 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Springfield, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
13.7
+45% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$24.13
+19% in Springfield, MO

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 Springfield, MO
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 / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.70%
+4.0 pp in VT

Burlington vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Springfield?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).