Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 39% higher in South Burlington, VT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$709
$1,557
+120% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,533
+88% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$999
$1,805
+81% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$2,356
+65% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$399,600
+24% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$97,229
+65% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$60,020
+29% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
38.8 yr
+10.1 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
41.9%
60.1%
+18.2 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
65.1%
+15.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.2 min
18.9 min
+0.7 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
239.4
+44% in Fayetteville, AR
Property Crime
2,392.2
4,446
+86% 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
57.1°F
46.0°F
+11.1°F in Fayetteville, AR
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
36.8 in
+11.7 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.4
+73% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$26.07
+6% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR
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 (AR / VT)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
8.75%
+4.8 pp in VT

Fayetteville vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or South Burlington?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or South Burlington?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).