Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 43% higher in South Burlington, VT. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,557
+80% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,533
+84% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,805
+84% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$2,356
+101% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$399,600
+169% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$97,229
+75% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$60,020
+34% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
38.8 yr
+2.6 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
54.3%
60.1%
+5.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
65.1%
+31.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
20.5 min
18.9 min
+1.6 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
239.4
+60% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
4,446
+97% 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
65.1°F
46.0°F
+19.1°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
36.8 in
+16.3 in in Montgomery, AL

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)
16.4
24.4
+49% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$26.07
+8% 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 Montgomery, AL
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 (AL / VT)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
8.75%
+3.8 pp in VT

Montgomery vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or South Burlington?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery 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 Montgomery versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or South Burlington?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).