Living Cost Compare
Sacramento

California

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Sacramento, CA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Sacramento, CA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,753 in Sacramento, CA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 14% higher in South Burlington, VT. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Sacramento, CA
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,557
+24% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,533
+8% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,742
$1,805
+4% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,973
$2,356
+19% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$484,600
$399,600
+18% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,753
$97,229
+16% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,750
$60,020
+0% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
38.8 yr
+3.1 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
51.5%
60.1%
+8.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
65.1%
+28.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
25.6 min
18.9 min
+6.7 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
756.6
239.4
+68% in Sacramento, CA
Property Crime
2,615.3
4,446
+70% 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
61.0°F
46.0°F
+15.0°F in Sacramento, CA
Annual Precipitation
18.5 in
36.8 in
+18.3 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Sacramento, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
24.4
+30% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$26.07
+28% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Sacramento, CA
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 (CA / VT)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
8.75%
+4.6 pp in CA

Sacramento vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sacramento or South Burlington?
Sacramento, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,760 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sacramento than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Sacramento versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Sacramento or South Burlington?
Sacramento is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).