CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Burlington is moderately cheaper than San Francisco — 14.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Burlington, you would need $91,700 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+87.6%
Burlington
103.8
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+11.5%
Burlington
97.3
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+4.5%
Burlington
106.7
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Burlington
96.5
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+37.4%
Burlington
125.6
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$91,700
$11,700 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.1457. 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×

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Francisco has 87.6% higher housing costs compared to Burlington.

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

San Francisco, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
873,965
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceTourismHealthcareMedia

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)

San Francisco, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.