Cost of Living in Burlington, VT
Updated November 2026 · Chittenden County · Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area · population 44,675
Prices in Burlington are 1.4% above the US average (local index 101.4; the BEA index for the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area is 100.9), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 125.5; a single adult's modelled budget is about $3,038 a month and the median rent is $1,649.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Burlington's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area, unchanged.
Burlington price index by category, US average = 100: All items 101.4, Housing (rents) 108.5, Goods 97.3, Utilities 125.5, Other services 101.6
Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 | 105.1 | 102.6 | 106.3 | 100.8 | 100.9 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Burlington, VT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,310 | $15,720 | 43% |
| Utilities | $296 | $3,552 | 10% |
| Food at home | $274 | $3,288 | 9% |
| Transportation | $636 | $7,632 | 21% |
| Health care | $357 | $4,284 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 5% |
| Total | $3,038 | $36,456 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Burlington, VT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,669 | $20,028 | 34% |
| Utilities | $474 | $5,688 | 10% |
| Food at home | $507 | $6,084 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,258 | $15,096 | 26% |
| Health care | $662 | $7,944 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $324 | $3,888 | 7% |
| Total | $4,894 | $58,728 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Burlington, VT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,069 | $24,828 | 34% |
| Utilities | $577 | $6,924 | 9% |
| Food at home | $722 | $8,664 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,673 | $20,076 | 28% |
| Health care | $617 | $7,404 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $418 | $5,016 | 7% |
| Total | $6,076 | $72,912 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Burlington
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,466 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,394 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,776 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,201 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,711 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,649 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,550 |
| Median home value | $444,800 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,327/mo |
| Median household income | $71,109 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 32.7% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 6.3× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Vermont
23.84¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +7.9% (from 22.10¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 590 kWh a month in Vermont ≈ $141/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Vermont is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Burlington are 1.4% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $59,200 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 101.4. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona, FL | 101.4 | $2,899 | $1,711 |
| Warwick, RI | 101.4 | $2,720 | $1,363 |
| Stockton, CA | 101.4 | $2,898 | $1,577 |
| Fresno, CA | 101.4 | $2,804 | $1,421 |
| Carmel, IN | 101.3 | $3,001 | $1,712 |
| Leominster, MA | 101.3 | $2,781 | $1,354 |
Compare Burlington with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Burlington, VT an expensive place to live?
Burlington has a local cost of living index of 101.4, which is 1.4% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area (100.9) and adjusts housing to Burlington's own rents. It is 3.5 points above the Vermont average. Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Burlington?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $3,038 for a single adult, $4,894 for a couple and $6,076 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $60,900 in Burlington.
What is the average rent in Burlington?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,649 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,394, 2 bedrooms $1,776, 3 bedrooms $2,201. The typical renter spends 32.7% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-estimated home value is $444,800, 6.3 times the median household income of $71,109 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,327 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Burlington?
Vermont residential electricity averaged 23.84¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 100.9) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 5010675 (Burlington city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Vermont residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources