Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 35% higher in Washington, DC. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$1,763
+37% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,885
+48% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$1,949
+13% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$2,249
+12% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$724,600
+81% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$106,287
+54% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$71,060
+18% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
34.9 yr
+8.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
39.8%
41.1%
+1.3 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
63.6%
+3.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
19.2 min
30.3 min
+11.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
936.3
+88% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,627.9
+18% 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
58.2°F
+12.2°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
39.7 in
+2.9 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
25.4
+2% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$22.01
+8% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
10.75%
+2.0 pp in DC

Burlington vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Washington?
Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Washington?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).