Cost of Living in Burlington, VT - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $994 (excluding rent), and $3,132 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,591 (excluding rent), and $5,476 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.35 $21.35

$15.25 $15.25

$50.8 $50.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$69.0 $69.0

$187 $187

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.33 $11.33

$9.96 $9.96

$15.11 $15.11

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$3.03 $3.03

$8.07 $8.07

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.53 $2.53

$5.06 $5.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.28 $1.28

$4.09 $4.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$2.47 $2.47

$11.88 $11.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.08 $5.08

$12.20 $12.20

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.81 $0.81

$1.89 $1.89

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.69 $2.69

$7.51 $7.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.70 $2.70

$11.72 $11.72

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.05 $2.05

$7.70 $7.70

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.90 $13.90

$8.78 $8.78

$32.93 $32.93

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$6.60 $6.60

$26.49 $26.49

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 $13.20

$35.19 $35.19

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$3.01 $3.01

$11.04 $11.04

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.12 $1.12

$6.75 $6.75

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.20 $2.20

$17.68 $17.68

Tomato (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.14 $4.14

$13.14 $13.14

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.90 $1.90

$7.84 $7.84

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.11 $2.11

$6.66 $6.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.95 $1.95

$4.88 $4.88

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$3.88 $3.88

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.12 $12.12

$9.80 $9.80

$16.66 $16.66

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 $12.43

$8.94 $8.94

$24.87 $24.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$4.25 $4.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.03 $2.03

$9.15 $9.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.22 $1.22

$2.93 $2.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 $50.1

$40.04 $40.04

$50.1 $50.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.11 $4.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.69 $3.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.82 $0.82

$1.10 $1.10

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K $30.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

$36.3K $36.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$131 $131

$338 $338

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.7 $56.7

$29.42 $29.42

$108 $108

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 $59.6

$49.63 $49.63

$129 $129

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 $74.2

$69.2 $69.2

$79.1 $79.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.94 $27.94

Cinema Ticket

$12.19 $12.19

$20.32 $20.32

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,298 $1,298

$1,272 $1,272

$3,562 $3,562

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K $11.8K

$9,832 $9,832

$39.3K $39.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 $63.8

$20.37 $20.37

$122 $122

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.67 $29.67

$24.72 $24.72

$59.3 $59.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 $55.4

$40.26 $40.26

$151 $151

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.7 $89.7

$79.7 $79.7

$249 $249

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,797 $1,797

$1,398 $1,398

$2,670 $2,670

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 $1,808

$1,466 $1,466

$2,022 $2,022

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,015 $3,015

$2,814 $2,814

$3,216 $3,216

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,964 $1,964

$2,750 $2,750

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,827 $3,827

$3,051 $3,051

$5,335 $5,335

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 $3,333

$2,915 $2,915

$4,270 $4,270

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,625 $4,625

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 2, 2026

Burlington, VT Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Burlington, VT - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Burlington, VT typically sits above the national average in several areas, yet you can find value with smart planning. The city pairs a high quality of life with walkable streets, good public transit, and easy access to outdoors – features that can offset some everyday costs. For short stays or longer work stints, look for community housing, shared spaces, or sublets in student or lake-neighborhoods. Dining and groceries tend to be comfortable rather than frugal, but weekend farmers markets and seasonal produce help. Tip: choose neighborhoods near transit to cut transport costs and time.

When you plan daily life, understanding Burlington, VT living cost helps ground your budget as you search for housing, groceries, and transit. The city favors compact, bike-friendly cores with a mix of vintage apartments and newer rentals often close to the waterfront or campus. Food options range from farmers markets to casual, solid-priced eateries; cooking at home stretches a budget. For transport, the local bus network and extensive bike lanes make most errands easy without a car, while car-sharing or occasional trips outside town covers bigger buys. Weekly shopping is straightforward in well-stocked stores and markets. Tip: map shortcuts to minimize backtracking and time on errands.

To maximize quality of life and budget in Burlington, adopt a simple framework: assess each neighborhood by access to transit, outdoor recreation, and housing type that fits your pace. In summer, lakeside areas buzz with events; in winter, staying near bike lanes and transit helps. Look for flexible leases or month-to-month options if you’re unsure how long you’ll stay. Budget with groceries, dining, and utilities by leaning on farmers markets, bulk stores, and shared coworking spaces for affordable workdays. Mix in free or low-cost community activities to stay connected. Tip: use a quarterly planning approach to rebalance your room, transport, and activity costs.