Living Cost Compare
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 13% 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 $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 7% higher in South Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

South Burlington, VT
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,557
$1,496
+4% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,533
$1,357
+11% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,805
$1,559
+14% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,356
$1,857
+21% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$399,600
$366,300
+8% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$97,229
$90,685
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$49,430
+18% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.8 yr
37.4 yr
+1.4 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
60.1%
64.9%
+4.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
65.1%
40.4%
+24.7 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.9 min
23.2 min
+4.3 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
239.4
96.9
+60% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,446
1,664.9
+63% 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
59.9°F
+13.9°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
44.3 in
+7.5 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
17.2
+30% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$27.20
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
5.75%
+3.0 pp in VT

South Burlington vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in South Burlington or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $61,000 a year in South Burlington versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, South Burlington or Virginia Beach?
South Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).