Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 34% higher in South Burlington, VT. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$1,557
+54% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,533
+42% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$1,805
+28% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$2,356
+41% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$399,600
+8% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$97,229
+52% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$60,020
+21% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
38.8 yr
+3.4 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
47.6%
60.1%
+12.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
65.1%
+20.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.6 min
18.9 min
+0.3 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
239.4
+25% in Eugene, OR
Property Crime
3,348.9
4,446
+33% 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
52.5°F
46.0°F
+6.5°F in Eugene, OR
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
36.8 in
+9.3 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.94/gal
+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
24.4
+50% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.60
$26.07
+21% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Eugene, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Eugene, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Eugene, OR
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 (OR / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
8.75%
+1.2 pp in OR

Eugene vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or South Burlington?
Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or South Burlington?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).