Living Cost Compare
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 47% 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 $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 43% higher in South Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

South Burlington, VT
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$1,557
$702
+55% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,533
$758
+51% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,805
$977
+46% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,356
$1,177
+50% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$399,600
$130,600
+67% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$97,229
$55,902
+43% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,540
+17% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.8 yr
38.2 yr
+0.6 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
60.1%
59.2%
+0.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
29.1%
+36.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.9 min
16.7 min
+2.2 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
239.4
856.5
+258% in Topeka, KS
Property Crime
4,446
3,660.2
+18% 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
55.1°F
+9.1°F in Topeka, KS
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
36.5 in
+0.4 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in South Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
15.7
+36% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$25.12
+4% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Topeka, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / KS)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
5.58%
+3.2 pp in VT

South Burlington vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in South Burlington or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% 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 Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $61,000 a year in South Burlington versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, South Burlington or Topeka?
South Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).