Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 52% higher in South Burlington, VT. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: New York vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Rochester vs South Burlington — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or South Burlington?
- Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in South Burlington?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
- Which has lower taxes, Rochester or South Burlington?
- Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).