Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Burlington compared to Fort Lauderdale? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Burlington | Metric | Fort Lauderdale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | Cost of Living Index | 118 | +0.0% |
| $440,000 | Median Home Price | $450,000 | +2.3% |
| $1,938 | Median Monthly Rent | $2,100 | +8.4% |
| $65,800 | Median Household Income | $63,500 | -3.5% |
| 1.9% | Property Tax Rate | 1.0% | -47.4% |
| 2.7% | Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | +37.0% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 27 min | +35.0% |
| 35.4 | Median Age | 42.8 | +20.9% |
| 230,000 | Metro Population | 185,000 | -19.6% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Burlington costs $3,050/month (PITI) compared to $2,782/month in Fort Lauderdale — a difference of $268/month or $3,216/year. The price-to-income ratio is 6.7x in Burlington versus 7.1x in Fort Lauderdale, suggesting Burlington is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 8.9 years to save a down payment in Burlington compared to 9.4 years in Fort Lauderdale.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Burlington | Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $65,800 | $63,500 |
| State Income Tax | $1,961 | None |
| Federal Income Tax | $5,925 | $5,491 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,034 | $4,858 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $8,360/yr | $4,500/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $12,920 (19.6%) | $10,349 (16.3%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $52,880 | $53,151 |
Florida has no state income tax, giving Fort Lauderdale residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $12,920 in Burlington (19.6% effective) versus $10,349 in Fort Lauderdale (16.3% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $52,880 in Burlington and $53,151 in Fort Lauderdale. Property taxes add $8,360/year on the median Burlington home versus $4,500/year in Fort Lauderdale.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $65,800 in Burlington (COL 118) and relocate to Fort Lauderdale (COL 118), you would need $65,800 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means your salary should stay roughly the same.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Burlington is 20 minutes versus 27 minutes in Fort Lauderdale, a difference of 7 minutes each way. Burlington's lower unemployment rate of 2.7% versus 3.7% suggests a stronger job market. Fort Lauderdale skews slightly older with a median age of 42.8 vs 35.4 in Burlington.
Burlington and Fort Lauderdale have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 118 and 118 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Fort Lauderdale is $450,000, which is $10,000 more than Burlington's median of $440,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,100/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $1,938/month in Burlington, a difference of $162/month or $1,944/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $65,800 salary in Burlington is equivalent to $65,800 in Fort Lauderdale. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Burlington's COL index of 118 vs Fort Lauderdale's 118. Conversely, $63,500 in Fort Lauderdale equals $63,500 in Burlington.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $12,920 (19.6% effective rate) in Burlington vs $10,349 (16.3% effective rate) in Fort Lauderdale. Property taxes on the median home are $8,360/year in Burlington (1.9% rate) vs $4,500/year in Fort Lauderdale (1.0% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.0% in Vermont and 6.0% in Florida.
Burlington median household income: $65,800/yr. Fort Lauderdale median household income: $63,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,938 in Burlington vs $2,100 in Fort Lauderdale. Annualized that is $23,256 vs $25,200.
Burlington offers a lower cost of living (index 118 vs 118), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Fort Lauderdale typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Burlington and Fort Lauderdale numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Burlington vs Fort Lauderdale cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .