How Much Does It Actually Cost To Live in Vermont in 2026?

Vermont is Vermont — beautiful, safe, slow — but it's not cheap. Vermont's cost of living is 111 vs 100 national average, or about 14% higher than the national average. Burlington is 118 vs 100, which is where most transplants land.

Like Maine, the killer is heat, not rent.

1. Average Rent in Vermont 2026

• Statewide baseline: Housing 24% higher than average — $1,488/month single, $2,728 family of four

• Cost of living index: Housing 113, Groceries 114, Utilities 120, Transportation 116, Health 100

• Burlington:

  • Overall 118 vs 100, Housing 134, Groceries 116, Utilities 120

  • Average rent $2,633 (RentCafe), Median rent $2,150 — $2.6K per month (Zillow/Realtor.com)

  • 1BR: $1,619+, 2BR: $2,138+. South Burlington 1BR $1,950, 2BR $2,167

  • Greater Burlington average: $2,091, Burlington city average: $2,316

  • Median listing price home: $542K, median time on market 69 days. Median home value older census $312,200, median rent $1,279

  • ForRent average: Burlington-South Burlington metro population 230,168

• Burlington 2-bedroom range: $1,900 to $2,400

• Rural Vermont (Rutland): Cost of living 100 vs 100 national — Housing 86, so Rutland is actually cheap. Barre, Bennington similar.

What locals pay: A single renter average cost of living $4,149 including rent or $2,449 excluding rent. Couple $5,864 including rent. Family of 4 $8,224 including rent or $6,014 excluding.

2. Utilities & Electric Bill in Vermont 2026

Vermont utilities are about 13% more expensive than national, but winter heating is the shock.

Electric:

• Vermont $488/month total utilities median — among top 10 most expensive states

• Average residential price: 22.35¢/kWh in Brattleboro/Middlebury, $127.84 average bill, retail average 18.41¢/kWh

• Burlington homeowner breakdown: Utilities $941/month +13.2% higher than US avg

• Homeowner utilities: $150-$250 typical but that excludes oil

Heating Oil — The Vermont Tax:

• Vermonters paid $218 more per month in home heating costs since start of Iran war — 33% increase

• Heating oil: $3.59/gal last winter to $5.18/gal October 2026

• Kerosene: $4.04 to $6.26/gal

• Average homeowner $2,100-$2,700 to heat with oil per winter, facing $900-$1,200 higher this winter

• National Energy Assistance Directors Association expects 30% more this winter, average bills near $2,300

• About 80% of heating oil consumption is concentrated in Northeast, Vermont has one of highest shares of oil/propane heat

Total utilities + transport + healthcare: 7.5% higher — $941/month single, $2,093 family

Savings tip: Heat pump switch — one Vermont legislator went from $1,500 for wood to $900 for electricity in a single heating season after switching. Efficiency Vermont rebates cover 50-70%.

3. Groceries in Vermont 2026

• Food expenses 7% above average: $428/month individual, $1,391 family

• Groceries 10% more than national average in Burlington

• Index: Groceries 114 vs 100, South Burlington groceries 105 vs national 100

• Burlington homeowner groceries: $1,444/month +5.6% higher than US avg (family model)

• Real single budget: $350-$500/month if you cook, $600+ if you eat out — farm-to-table is everywhere

4. Full Budget — What It Actually Costs

Single adult, Burlington:
Rent $1,619 (1BR) + Utilities $250 + Groceries $428 + Transport $200 + Healthcare $200 = $2,697/mo or $32,364/yr
Add winter oil spike: $2,915 Dec-Feb

Single adult, rural Vermont (Rutland, Barre, St. Albans):
Rent $1,100 + Utilities $200 + Groceries $400 + Gas $150 = $1,850/mo or $22,200/yr

Family of 4, Burlington:
Rent 2BR $2,150 + Utilities $350 + Heating oil winterized $250 + Groceries $1,100 + Transport $400 + Childcare $1,000 = $5,250/mo or $63,000/yr
Salary.com family model: Housing $2,728 + Food $1,391 + Utilities/transport/healthcare $2,093 = $6,212/mo baseline before childcare

5. Is Vermont Worth It in 2026?

Pros: Crime is low (total 1,390 per 100k), nature, no billboards, strong community. Cons: Heating oil volatility and groceries 14% above national.

If you can work remotely and live outside Chittenden County (Burlington), you drop housing from index 134 to 86 (Rutland). That's $800-$1,000/mo savings.