Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Charlotte, NC is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 19% higher in South Burlington, VT. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,557
+9% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,533
+12% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,805
+21% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$2,356
+42% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$399,600
+14% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$97,229
+24% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$60,020
+20% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
38.8 yr
+4.4 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
51.5%
60.1%
+8.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
65.1%
+17.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
25.0 min
18.9 min
+6.1 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
239.4
+67% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
4,446
+20% in South 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
59.9°F
46.0°F
+13.9°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
36.8 in
+4.8 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
24.4
+66% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.10
$26.07
+13% in Charlotte, NC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charlotte, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / VT)
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
8.75%
+4.8 pp in VT

Charlotte vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or South Burlington?
Charlotte, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or South Burlington?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).