Laurel, MD vs South Burlington, VT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Burlington, VT has a modeled overall cost index 34.7% lower than Laurel, MD.

Laurel, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $2,320 / month
South Burlington, VT · modeled 2BR rent: $2,410 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Laurel, MD and South Burlington, VT using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Laurel, MD

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,495/month in South Burlington, VT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $120,059 in South Burlington, VT

Regional cost estimates: Laurel, MD uses Washington, DC. South Burlington, VT uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 34.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,495

Savings

Annual Impact

$29.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Laurel, MD

Population:29K

Cost Index:

141.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$461K

South Burlington, VT

Population:21K

Cost Index:

92.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$470K

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Laurel, MD

The Old Line State

29K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 29K residents.

South Burlington, VT

The Green Mountain State

21K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Vermont, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Laurel, MD vs South Burlington, VT

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Laurel, MD	South Burlington, VT	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,614/mo	$2,044/mo	↓ $1,571less	43.5%
Transportation	$1,219/mo	$788/mo	↓ $431less	35.4%
Other	$1,180/mo	$785/mo	↓ $394less	33.4%
Groceries	$723/mo	$590/mo	↓ $133less	18.4%
All Utilities	$340/mo	$391/mo	↑ $50.84more	14.9%
Healthcare	$423/mo	$406/mo	↓ $16.97less	4.0%

Housing

↓ 43.5%

Laurel, MD

$3,614

South Burlington, VT

$2,044

Difference

$1,571

less

Transportation

↓ 35.4%

Laurel, MD

$1,219

South Burlington, VT

$788

Difference

$431

less

Other

↓ 33.4%

Laurel, MD

$1,180

South Burlington, VT

$785

Difference

$394

less

Groceries

↓ 18.4%

Laurel, MD

$723

South Burlington, VT

$590

Difference

$133

less

All Utilities

↑ 14.9%

Laurel, MD

$340

South Burlington, VT

$391

Difference

$50.84

Healthcare

↓ 4.0%

Laurel, MD

$423

South Burlington, VT

$406

Difference

$16.97

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,910

To$1,690

↓ $220

1 Bed

From$2,030

To$1,860

↓ $170

2 Bed

From$2,320

To$2,410

↑ $90.00

3 Bed

From$2,950

To$3,090

↑ $140

Laurel, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,890–$2,120/mo

South Burlington, VTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,860–$1,860/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Laurel, MD

$5,005

Monthly in South Burlington, VT

$2,495

Difference

Home Values

Laurel

South Burlington

$461K

Median Value

$470K

↓ -0.1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.2%

↑ +24.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.9%

$409K - $574K

Price Range

$470K

Homes in South Burlington are 2% more expensive than Laurel

Calculate payment - Laurel Calculate payment - South Burlington

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.8K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$151

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.2%

Rate difference

Laurel, MD

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Maryland State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.5%

$44.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,811/month

$105.7K

South Burlington, VT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Vermont State Tax

Effective: 6.1%

$9.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.7%

$46.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,659/month

$103.9K

Additional Tax Information

Laurel, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

South Burlington, VT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:1.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Laurel

South Burlington

45 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

63.7%

Good Air Days

79.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

Before moving from Laurel, MD to South Burlington, VT

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South Burlington, VT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Laurel, MD. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Laurel to South Burlington moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to South Burlington, VT by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Laurel, MD vs South Burlington, VT

How do the cost estimates for Laurel, MD and South Burlington, VT compare?

South Burlington, VT has a modeled overall cost index 34.7% lower than Laurel, MD. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Laurel, MD, the model estimates $120,059 in South Burlington, VT. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Laurel, MD and South Burlington, VT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,320/month in Laurel, MD and $2,410/month in South Burlington, VT. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Maryland and Vermont on TaxTakeHome.com