Living Cost Compare
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, South Burlington, VT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $121,984 in Seattle, WA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 20% higher in Seattle, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Seattle, WA
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,638
$1,557
+5% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,858
$1,533
+17% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$2,359
$1,805
+23% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$2,918
$2,356
+19% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$912,100
$399,600
+56% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$121,984
$97,229
+20% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$72,610
$60,020
+17% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.5 yr
38.8 yr
+3.3 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
44.2%
60.1%
+15.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
67.5%
65.1%
+2.4 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
26.6 min
18.9 min
+7.7 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
788.6
239.4
+70% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
5,108.8
4,446
+13% in Seattle, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.5°F
46.0°F
+7.5°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
37.7 in
36.8 in
+0.9 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.41/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in Seattle, WA

Area: Seattle vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
24.4
+64% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.34
$26.07
+22% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Seattle, WA
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 (WA / VT)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
8.75%
+8.8 pp in VT

Seattle vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Seattle or South Burlington?
South Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Seattle than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Seattle versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Seattle or South Burlington?
Seattle is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).