Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 35% 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.

Houston, TX
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$1,557
+36% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,533
+33% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,805
+31% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$2,356
+42% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$399,600
+58% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$97,229
+55% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$60,020
+21% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.8 yr
+4.5 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
42.0%
60.1%
+18.1 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
65.1%
+29.1 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
27.3 min
18.9 min
+8.4 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,153.8
239.4
+79% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,324.9
4,446
+3% 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
70.3°F
46.0°F
+24.3°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
36.8 in
+17.8 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+12% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Houston vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

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

Houston vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or South Burlington?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or South Burlington?
Houston 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).