[Shadi Manuel]

Hi everybody

My husband and I are about to move to Vermont. I'll be working at university and reading these comments made me thinking if we would be able to afford this city!! I'll be earning about 3000 $ per month and we would like to have a one bedroom flat close to university. At the moment my husband is not allowed to work under his visa status and we are wondering will be able to survive in vermont?

I'd like to know 1-bdroom flat + utilities + car costs + grocery for two people please if you have similar background...

BTW, we are used to cold climate, as we have lived in New Zealand (south island).


Thanks very much

[contrapposto]

Burlington?

$3000 take home pay or before taxes?

I think you could stumble through it. Burlington's rental market is out of step with the needs of the city so you'll end up paying more for your housing then you ought to be. Wanting to be close to the University can make it even worse as you'll have loads of students that likewise are eager to walk.

My wife was in a similar situation when she emigrated and what made it work for us was living with my parents.

If you are moving to a town outside of Burlington then the housing will be a bit easier to pull off.

You're husband is going to want to join some kind of social groups, pick whatever hobby he is interested in, and get connected up with the community. When he finally can work it might be tough to find what he wants without personal connections.

[vter]

Going to be really tough in Burlington on that income. Housing will eat up a lot of your salary. You may have to live outside of Burlington and commute. How far are you willing to commute?

[cgregor]

check out livable wage. MIT has it broken down by state and metropolitan area for households of various sizes.

[Oriz]

I don't think $3,000 in Burlington is enough for two people. Let alone if you're planning to have any kids in the near future, your husband will definitely have to be working by then. You might be able to scrape by but the quality of life just won't be there. I would try to find something in Colchester, Milton or almost any other place around Burlington but not in Burlington, that alone could potentially save you up to $700 a month.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shadi Manuel

BTW, we are used to cold climate, as we have lived in New Zealand (south island).

I've been on ski trips to the South Island. That's not a cold climate by Vermont standards. Burlington is usually pretty cold for a week or two in January. Daily highs during a cold snap don't break 0F. (-18C) I used to be pretty unhappy trudging to class at UVM then with the constant breeze off the lake.

It will be challenging to live in Burlington on that kind of budget but lots of college students do it.

[ansible90]

Check the housing web site for the U of VT Burlington

https://offcampushousing.uvm.edu/

[CatwomanofV]

It all depends on WHICH university. Vermont now has 2. If it is UVM, then it is like others have said, the cost of living in Burlington is high. But, if it is Castleton University, than that is different. Housing around Castleton is a lot more affordable.



Cat