CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs Chico, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostVT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
CA
Chico
101.2
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Burlington and Chico have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.5%
Burlington
103.8
Chico
91.9
🛒 Groceries+8.1%
Burlington
97.3
Chico
105.2
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Burlington
106.7
Chico
105.3
🏥 Healthcare1.2%
Burlington
96.5
Chico
95.3
Utilities+26.4%
Burlington
125.6
Chico
158.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Chico, CA
$80,200
$200 more needed in Chico

Formula: salary × (101.2 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0030. 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×

Chico, CA

Median Home Price
$390,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
91.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.6×

Burlington has 11.5% lower housing costs compared to Chico.

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

Chico, CA

Median Household Income
$63,200
Per Capita Income
$36,000
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
101,475
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingRetail

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)

Chico, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.