What is the cost of living in South Burlington, VT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Burlington has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Vermont, South Burlington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Vermont's index of 110.
The standard of living in South Burlington ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 12 places we measured in Vermont. By definition, that implies South Burlington ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Green Mountain State.
For more reading on life in South Burlington, check out:
South Burlington Cost Of Living Vs. Vermont
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Burlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Burlington is 108.
The Groceries index in South Burlington is 105.
The Health index in South Burlington is 166.
The Housing index in South Burlington is 108.
The Transportation index in South Burlington is 105.
The Utilities index in South Burlington is 106.
| Living Expense | South Burlington | Vermont | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 110 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 166 | 114 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 103 | 100 |
South 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 South Burlington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South 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 South Burlington is $481,493.
The Median Rent in South Burlington is $1,787.
The Median Income in South Burlington is $106,667.
The Home Value To Income in South Burlington is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Burlington is 0.2x.
| Statistic | South Burlington | Vermont | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $481,493 | $394,037 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,787 | $1,234 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $106,667 | $81,203 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
South Burlington, VT Costs By Category
Detailed South Burlington Services costs vs. Vermont
| Item | South 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 South Burlington Groceries costs vs. Vermont
| Item | South 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 South Burlington Health costs vs. Vermont
| Item | South Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $152.78 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Burlington Transportation costs vs. Vermont
| Item | South Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.59 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.6 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Burlington Utilities costs vs. Vermont
| Item | South Burlington | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $262.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.03 | $192.25 |
South Burlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Burlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Burlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Burlington, VT has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x South Burlington.
Winooski, VT has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x South Burlington.
Shelburne, VT has a cost of living index of 131, 1.1x South Burlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VT | 44,675 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Winooski, VT | 8,293 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Shelburne, VT | 6,499 | 131 | 1.1x |
