Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 38% higher in South Burlington, VT. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,557
+38% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,533
+29% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,805
+29% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$2,356
+68% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$399,600
+72% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$97,229
+60% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$60,020
+11% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
38.8 yr
+3.7 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
52.3%
60.1%
+7.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
65.1%
+30.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
32.0 min
18.9 min
+13.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
239.4
+74% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
4,446
+4% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
46.0°F
+11.1°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
36.8 in
+11.7 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.7
24.4
+12% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.08
$26.07
about equal

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
8.75%
+5.7 pp in VT

Philadelphia vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or South Burlington?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or South Burlington?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).