Cost of living index

Burlington, VT

100.9 / 100

Living in Burlington, VT is 0.9% more expensive than the US average — the #71 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,531/mo

Median home value: $370,400

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Burlington, VT metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

32° / 16°F

(0° / -9°C)

6.4 in precip

Spring

55° / 36°F

(13° / 2°C)

9.1 in precip

Summer

80° / 60°F

(27° / 16°C)

11.9 in precip

Fall

59° / 42°F

(15° / 6°C)

10.2 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from BURLINGTON INTL AP, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Burlington, VT

The Burlington, VT metro area has an overall price level of 100.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 0.9% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 103.8 it is 3.8% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#71 of 387

100.9

Goods#96 of 387

97.3

Housing rents#85 of 387

103.8

Utilities#57 of 387

125.5

Other services#27 of 387

101.6

Burlington, VT is moved up the most by utilities, at 125.5 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

How Burlington, VT compares

Other metros in Vermont

Browse Vermont →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Burlington, VT an expensive place to live?

Burlington, VT has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 0.9% more expensive than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Burlington, VT?

Housing rents in Burlington, VT score 103.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 3.8% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Burlington, VT compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Burlington, VT sit at 100.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 103.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.