Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 47% higher in South Burlington, VT. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,557
+78% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,533
+62% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,805
+68% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$2,356
+84% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$399,600
+154% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$97,229
+90% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$60,020
+28% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
38.8 yr
+4.5 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
46.0%
60.1%
+14.1 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
65.1%
+36.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
21.3 min
18.9 min
+2.4 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.6
239.4
+90% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,966.3
4,446
+36% in Memphis, TN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.1°F
46.0°F
+17.1°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
36.8 in
+16.9 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.4
+74% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.75
$26.07
+32% 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 Memphis, TN
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 (TN / VT)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Memphis vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or South Burlington?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or South Burlington?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% 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).