Living Cost Compare
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 40% 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 $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 44% higher in South Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

South Burlington, VT
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,557
$795
+49% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,533
$891
+42% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,805
$1,146
+37% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,356
$1,520
+35% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$399,600
$242,200
+39% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$97,229
$54,546
+44% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$47,760
+20% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.8 yr
34.6 yr
+4.2 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
60.1%
51.7%
+8.4 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
30.2%
+34.9 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.9 min
22.2 min
+3.3 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
239.4
645.8
+170% in Tucson, AZ
Property Crime
4,446
3,460
+22% 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
70.2°F
+24.2°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
11.6 in
+25.2 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.21/gal
+32% in Tucson, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
15.2
+38% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$24.74
+5% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Tucson, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Tucson, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Tucson, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.50%
+6.3 pp in VT

South Burlington vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in South Burlington or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% 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 Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $61,000 a year in South Burlington versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, South Burlington or Tucson?
South Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).