CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs Reading, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Reading
97.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Reading is slightly cheaper than Burlington — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Burlington, you would need $77,000 in Reading. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.7%
Burlington
103.8
Reading
85.4
🛒 Groceries+3.5%
Burlington
97.3
Reading
100.7
🚗 Transportation3.8%
Burlington
106.7
Reading
102.6
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Burlington
96.5
Reading
92.8
Utilities13.9%
Burlington
125.6
Reading
108.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Reading, PA
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Reading

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9623. 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×

Reading, PA

Median Home Price
$299,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
85.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Burlington has 17.7% lower housing costs compared to Reading.

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

Reading, PA

Median Household Income
$75,700
Per Capita Income
$43,100
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
95,112
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationLogistics

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)

Reading, PA
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.