CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Burlington, VT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableVT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent

Burlington is slightly cheaper than Boulder — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $76,700 in Burlington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing33.9%
Boulder
157
Burlington
103.8
🛒 Groceries+1.2%
Boulder
96.1
Burlington
97.3
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Boulder
104.8
Burlington
106.7
🏥 Healthcare+1.8%
Boulder
94.8
Burlington
96.5
Utilities+51.9%
Boulder
82.7
Burlington
125.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boulder to see what you'd need to earn in Burlington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Burlington, VT
$76,700
$3,300 less needed in Burlington

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.9591. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Burlington, VT

Median Home Price
$459,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,150
Housing Index
103.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Boulder has 33.9% lower housing costs compared to Burlington.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Burlington, VT

Median Household Income
$95,500
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
44,743
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyTourismFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Burlington, VT
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.