What is the cost of living in Montpelier, VT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Montpelier has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Vermont, Montpelier has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Vermont's index of 110.
The standard of living in Montpelier ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 12 places we measured in Vermont. By definition, that implies Montpelier ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Green Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Montpelier, check out:
Montpelier Cost Of Living Vs. Vermont
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Montpelier. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Montpelier is 109.
The Groceries index in Montpelier is 107.
The Health index in Montpelier is 132.
The Housing index in Montpelier is 105.
The Transportation index in Montpelier is 106.
The Utilities index in Montpelier is 104.
| Living Expense | Montpelier | Vermont | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 132 | 114 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 103 | 100 |
Montpelier 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 Montpelier Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Montpelier, 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 Montpelier is $414,351.
The Median Rent in Montpelier is $1,302.
The Median Income in Montpelier is $81,030.
The Home Value To Income in Montpelier is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Montpelier is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Montpelier | Vermont | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $414,351 | $394,037 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,302 | $1,234 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,030 | $81,203 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Montpelier, VT Costs By Category
Detailed Montpelier Services costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Montpelier | 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 Montpelier Groceries costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Montpelier | 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 Montpelier Health costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Montpelier | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $152.78 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed Montpelier Transportation costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Montpelier | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.59 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.6 | $59.92 |
Detailed Montpelier Utilities costs vs. Vermont
| Item | Montpelier | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $262.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.03 | $192.25 |
Montpelier SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Montpelier
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Montpelier. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Barre, VT has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x Montpelier.
