Living Cost Compare
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 26% higher in South Burlington, VT. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$883
$1,557
+76% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,076
$1,533
+42% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,428
$1,805
+26% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,019
$2,356
+17% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$255,700
$399,600
+56% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$72,077
$97,229
+35% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,810
$60,020
+3% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
38.8 yr
+10.2 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
40.5%
60.1%
+19.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.5%
65.1%
+38.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
14.1 min
18.9 min
+4.8 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726.1
239.4
+67% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
3,504.2
4,446
+27% 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
27.7°F
46.0°F
+18.3°F in South Burlington, VT
Annual Precipitation
10.8 in
36.8 in
+26.0 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.94/gal
+24% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
24.4
+13% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$26.07
+50% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Fairbanks, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
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 (AK / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Fairbanks vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or South Burlington?
Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or South Burlington?
Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax 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).