Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Burlington Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Burlington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,383 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,778 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,196 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $4,107 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,008 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $5,436 in Burlington, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 22% more than Burlington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fullerton, CA and Burlington sit above the global median – Fullerton, CA by 152%, Burlington by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$20.15 CA$28.02

24.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$74.4 CA$104

12.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.96 CA$15.24

3.19%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.67 CA$5.11

47.68%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.01 CA$2.80

36.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.73 CA$2.41

17.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 $7.28

$5.85 CA$8.14

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.62 $8.62

$6.54 CA$9.09

31.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.99 CA$2.76

-40.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.07 CA$4.26

30.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.31 CA$5.99

-3.94%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$3.19 CA$4.43

37.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$13.65 CA$18.98

-20.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$9.14 CA$12.72

-3.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$21.94 CA$30.51

-32.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.46 CA$4.81

-2.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.42 CA$1.98

35.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.73 CA$5.19

1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.49 CA$4.86

60.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.95 CA$2.71

67.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.79 CA$2.48

82.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.10 CA$2.93

-29.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.00 CA$2.78

5.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$14.74 CA$20.50

-24.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$12.63 CA$17.56

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.36 CA$3.29

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.33 CA$3.24

99.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.39 CA$4.72

-32.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 $63.3

$105 CA$146

-39.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.32 CA$3.22

74.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.70 CA$2.37

-2.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.28 $32.28

$43.79 CA$60.9

-26.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.17 CA$1.63

8.55%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

-3.57%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$21.4K CA$29.8K

12.44%

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

$198 $198

$131 CA$182

51.60%

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

$49.86 $49.86

$53.2 CA$74.0

-6.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$62.1 CA$86.3

5.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$45.44 CA$63.2

-12.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.28 CA$32.38

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$11.22 CA$15.60

25.40%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$952 CA$1,324

44.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$24.0K CA$33.3K

64.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 $70.3

$62.1 CA$86.4

13.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 $35.06

$69.4 CA$96.5

-49.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$87.5 CA$122

-4.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$136 CA$189

-13.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$1,733 CA$2,410

51.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,017 $2,017

$1,470 CA$2,045

37.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,640 CA$3,671

47.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,012 $4,012

$2,440 CA$3,393

64.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,437 $5,437

$5,745 CA$7,989

-5.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,546 CA$6,322

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$3,278 CA$4,559

40.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.4

2.81%

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

Last update for Fullerton, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burlington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,625 in Fullerton, CA versus $1,733 in Burlington. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Fullerton, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Fullerton, CA versus $74.0 in Burlington. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Fullerton, CA vs $375 in Burlington – so Fullerton, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fullerton, CA vs Burlington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Fullerton, CA is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,075 per month in Fullerton, CA and $4,167 in Burlington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,378 per month in Fullerton, CA and $952 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Fullerton, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,383 in Fullerton, CA and $2,778 in Burlington. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Burlington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Burlington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fullerton, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.