What is the cost of living in Burlington, VT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Burlington has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Vermont, Burlington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Vermont's index of 110.
The standard of living in Burlington ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 12 places we measured in Vermont. By definition, that implies Burlington ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Green Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Burlington, check out:
Burlington Cost Of Living Vs. Vermont
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Burlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Burlington is 108.
The Groceries index in Burlington is 107.
The Health index in Burlington is 156.
The Housing index in Burlington is 105.
The Transportation index in Burlington is 107.
The Utilities index in Burlington is 104.
| Living Expense | Burlington | Vermont | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 110 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 156 | 114 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 103 | 100 |
Burlington Cost Of Living Compared To Vermont Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Vermont, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Burlington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Burlington, VT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Vermont, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Burlington is $506,784.
The Median Rent in Burlington is $1,649.
The Median Income in Burlington is $71,109.
The Home Value To Income in Burlington is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Burlington is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Burlington | Vermont | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $506,784 | $394,037 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,649 | $1,234 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,109 | $81,203 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Burlington, VT Costs By Category
Detailed Burlington Services costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.94 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.98 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.44 | $45.56 |
Detailed Burlington Groceries costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.72 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.82 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.97 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.05 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.01 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Burlington Health costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $152.78 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed Burlington Transportation costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.59 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.6 | $59.92 |
Detailed Burlington Utilities costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $262.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.03 | $192.25 |
Burlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Burlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Burlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
South Burlington, VT has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x Burlington.
Plattsburgh, NY has a cost of living index of 99, 0.8x Burlington.
Winooski, VT has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Burlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington, VT | 20,756 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Plattsburgh, NY | 19,830 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Winooski, VT | 8,293 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Shelburne, VT | 6,499 | 131 | 1.1x |
