Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Lexington, KY versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 30% higher in South Burlington, VT. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$769
$1,557
+102% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,533
+73% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,805
+61% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$2,356
+67% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$399,600
+47% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$97,229
+44% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$60,020
+23% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
38.8 yr
+3.6 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
53.6%
60.1%
+6.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
65.1%
+17.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
20.8 min
18.9 min
+1.9 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
239.4
+11% in Lexington, KY
Property Crime
2,304.4
4,446
+93% 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
55.6°F
46.0°F
+9.6°F in Lexington, KY
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
36.8 in
+8.4 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.3
24.4
+71% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.20
$26.07
+21% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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 (KY / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
8.75%
+5.3 pp in VT

Lexington vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or South Burlington?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or South Burlington?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).