Cost of Living in Vermont

Burlington residents need $108,945 a year to cover standard expenses, which runs about $16,106 above the national median of $92,839. CityWage currently tracks Burlington as the single Vermont city in its dataset, so this figure represents Burlington specifically, not a statewide average.

The salary gap sharpens the picture. Burlington's median local salary sits at $60,020, leaving a $48,925 shortfall against what a comfortable budget actually requires. Earning the local median here means running significantly behind on housing alone: rent averages $2,140 a month, or roughly $25,680 a year before any other expense. Vermont's progressive income tax, with rates reaching into the upper single digits, further compresses take-home pay relative to gross earnings, so the effective gap between what residents earn and what they need is wider than the raw numbers suggest.

Burlington fits workers whose income clears the $108,945 threshold with room to spare. A remote professional earning $130,000 or more can absorb both the high cost floor and Vermont's income-tax bite. A remote worker at $95,000 is still $13,945 short of the required annual, making the budget tight without supplemental income or shared housing costs. Someone earning the local median of $60,020 faces a $48,925 gap and will need to cut costs aggressively or carry debt. The $2,140 monthly rent figure is the most practical starting checkpoint for any relocation budget.