Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 31% higher in South Burlington, VT. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,557
+38% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,533
+34% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,805
+30% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$2,356
+52% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$399,600
+50% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$97,229
+45% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$60,020
+23% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
38.8 yr
+2.4 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
57.4%
60.1%
+2.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
65.1%
+33.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
24.1 min
18.9 min
+5.2 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
239.4
+57% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
4,446
+71% 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
70.2°F
46.0°F
+24.2°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
36.8 in
+12.4 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.83/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Florida vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.4
+62% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$26.07
+10% in South Burlington, VT

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 Jacksonville, FL
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 (FL / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Jacksonville vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or South Burlington?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or South Burlington?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% 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).