Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 40% higher in South Burlington, VT. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,557
+120% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,533
+88% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,805
+82% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$2,356
+88% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$399,600
+133% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$97,229
+66% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$60,020
+52% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
38.8 yr
+4.7 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
60.2%
60.1%
+0.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
65.1%
+37.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
23.7 min
18.9 min
+4.8 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
239.4
+25% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,509.3
4,446
+195% 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
64.6°F
46.0°F
+18.6°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
36.8 in
+27.1 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.94/gal
+10% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
24.4
+53% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$26.07
+18% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 (TX / VT)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

El Paso vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or South Burlington?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or South Burlington?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).