Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Denver, CO is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 6% higher in South Burlington, VT. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$1,557
+4% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$1,533
+3% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$1,805
+8% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$2,356
+4% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$399,600
+32% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$97,229
+6% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$60,020
+4% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
38.8 yr
+3.6 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
49.1%
60.1%
+11.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
65.1%
+9.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
25.4 min
18.9 min
+6.5 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
999.3
239.4
+76% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.1
4,446
+7% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.2°F
46.0°F
+4.2°F in Denver, CO
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
36.8 in
+21.2 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.16/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
24.4
+43% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$26.07
+73% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Denver, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Denver, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Denver, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / VT)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
8.75%
+4.3 pp in VT

Denver vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or South Burlington?
Denver, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,760 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or South Burlington?
Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).