Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,760/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 $2,760 in San Francisco, CA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, South Burlington, VT is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 31% higher in San Francisco, CA. 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.

San Francisco, CA
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,557
+0% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,533
+37% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,805
+39% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$2,356
+28% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$399,600
+71% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$97,229
+31% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$60,020
+19% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
38.8 yr
+0.9 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
60.1%
+21.6 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
65.1%
+5.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
31.2 min
18.9 min
+12.3 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
239.4
+60% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
3,962.2
4,446
+12% 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
57.3°F
46.0°F
+11.3°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
36.8 in
+13.2 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.55/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
24.4
+30% in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in San Francisco, 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

San Francisco vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or South Burlington?
South Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below San Francisco, CA's $2,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or South Burlington?
San Francisco 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).