CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lansing is moderately cheaper than Burlington — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Burlington, you would need $75,300 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.6%
Burlington
103.8
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries3.7%
Burlington
97.3
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Burlington
106.7
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Burlington
96.5
Lansing
94.6
Utilities24.0%
Burlington
125.6
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$75,300
$4,700 less needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9415. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Burlington, VT

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

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Burlington has 19.6% lower housing costs compared to Lansing.

Income & Job Market

Burlington, VT

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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Burlington, VT
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.