Living Cost Compare
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,790 in South Burlington, VT versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $97,229 in South Burlington, VT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 27% higher in South Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

South Burlington, VT
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,557
$1,242
+20% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,533
$1,324
+14% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,805
$1,673
+7% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,356
$1,729
+27% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$399,600
$375,300
+6% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$97,229
$71,302
+27% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$48,940
+18% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.8 yr
35.6 yr
+3.2 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
60.1%
50.2%
+9.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
44.6%
+20.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.9 min
24.7 min
+5.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
239.4
443.2
+85% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
4,446
1,473.2
+67% 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
46.0°F
73.4°F
+27.4°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
46.3 in
+9.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.83/gal
+3% in South Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
15.1
+38% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$23.62
+9% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Tampa, FL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
None
+8.8 pp in VT

South Burlington vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in South Burlington or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in South Burlington than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $61,000 a year in South Burlington versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, South Burlington or Tampa?
South Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).