Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 3% higher in Tampa, FL. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,242
+3% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,324
+4% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,673
+3% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,729
+14% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$375,300
+6% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$71,302
+4% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$48,940
+18% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
35.6 yr
+8.9 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
39.8%
50.2%
+10.4 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
44.6%
+15.9 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
24.7 min
+5.5 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
443.2
+11% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
1,473.2
+67% 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
73.4°F
+27.4°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
46.3 in
+9.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
15.2
+39% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$23.62
+16% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL
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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
None
+8.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Tampa?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).