City Comparison

Bangkok vs Burlington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bangkok

Thailand
47
Very Affordable
$165,000
Median Home
$575/mo
Median Rent
$14,400
Median Income

Burlington

Vermont
118
Above Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$51,098
Median Income

The Verdict

60.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 60.2%, with Bangkok being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Bangkok has equivalent purchasing power to $188,298 in Burlington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
32
Bangkok
139
Burlington
Groceries
48
Bangkok
108
Burlington
Utilities
38
Bangkok
115
Burlington
Transportation
42
Bangkok
98
Burlington
Healthcare
28
Bangkok
116
Burlington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bangkok has the same purchasing power as $188,298 in Burlington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Burlington equals $29,873 in Bangkok.

Living in Bangkok vs Burlington

Housing Costs

Bangkok's housing index of 32 is lower Burlington's 139, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $380,000. The $215,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,980 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $575/mo in Bangkok compared to $1,800/mo in Burlington, a monthly difference of $1,225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 48 in Bangkok and 108 in Burlington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $228/month in Bangkok vs $513/month in Burlington. Bangkok offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $3420/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 38 in Bangkok and 115 in Burlington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $152 in Bangkok vs $460 in Burlington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 28 in Bangkok and 116 in Burlington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 88-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $14,400 in Bangkok and $51,098 in Burlington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $30,638 and $43,303 respectively. Burlington residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $336/month to housing in Bangkok vs $1,192/month in Burlington. In Bangkok, median rent of $575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Burlington, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bangkok is 60.2% more affordable overall with an index of 47 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Bangkok has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $188,298 in Burlington, based on the cost of living difference.
Bangkok's housing index is 32 with median homes at $165,000, while Burlington's is 139 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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