Living Cost Compare
Phoenix

Arizona

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

Median household income is $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 21% higher in South Burlington, VT. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Phoenix, AZ
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,557
+38% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,253
$1,533
+22% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,493
$1,805
+21% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,771
$2,356
+33% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$381,900
$399,600
+5% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$77,041
$97,229
+26% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$60,020
+17% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
38.8 yr
+4.0 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
57.1%
60.1%
+3.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.3%
65.1%
+32.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
25.7 min
18.9 min
+6.8 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
799.6
239.4
+70% in Phoenix, AZ
Property Crime
2,338.9
4,446
+90% 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
75.1°F
46.0°F
+29.1°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.2 in
36.8 in
+28.6 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.94/gal
+24% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
24.4
+61% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.74
$26.07
+5% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / VT)
5.6%
6%
+0.4 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
8.75%
+6.3 pp in VT

Phoenix vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or South Burlington?
Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or South Burlington?
Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).