Cost of Living in Utah

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to easily compare the cost of living in your current location to the cost of living in a new location. We use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and salary differentials of over 300+ US cities to give you a comparison of costs and salary. Let us help you make an informed decision about what it will cost to live and work in the city of your dreams!
About Utah    Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in mountain valleys....More
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour while Utah's state law sets the minimum wage rate at $7.25 per hour in 2024. Demands for a living wage that is fair to workers have resulted in numerous location-based changes to minimum wage levels. View future changes in the minimum wage in your location by visiting Minimum Wage Values in Utah


Cost of Living Index in Major Cities of Utah

A comparison of the Cost of Living indexes across major Utah Cities compared to the national average. The calculations are based on the total cost of energy, food, healthcare, housing and transportation, among other factors.


City, State Compared to national average
City, State Salt Lake City, Utah Compared to national average
+ 7.4%
City, State Provo, Utah Compared to national average
+ 0.1%
City, State West Jordan, Utah Compared to national average
+ 7.1%
City, State Orem, Utah Compared to national average
+ 0.1%
City, State Sandy, Utah Compared to national average
+ 7.1%
City, State Ogden, Utah Compared to national average
-4.3%
City, State Saint George, Utah Compared to national average
+ 1.5%
City, State Layton, Utah Compared to national average
-4.5%
City, State Lehi, Utah Compared to national average
-0.4%
City, State Logan, Utah Compared to national average
-5.6%
City, State South Jordan, Utah Compared to national average
+ 7.0%



Cost of Living by Cities in Utah



Cost of Living by Major Cities

Click to see the cost of living for these major U.S. cities.


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About Utah

Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in mountain valleys. It is a rugged and geographically diverse state that is at the convergence of three distinct geological regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by Idaho in the north, Wyoming in the north and east; by Colorado in the east; at a single point by New Mexico to the southeast; by Arizona in the south; and by Nevada in the west. It covers an area of 84,899 sq mi ...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia



Comments about the Cost of Living in Utah

Buying a home and the cost of living

If you want to buy a home in the beautiful state of Utah, you will find that it is one of the highest residential home markets in the country. Purchasing a home can be a lengthy and complex process. Besides the down payment, which is usually 15-20% of the selling price, there will be closing costs. If you own a home in your former location the sale of that home needs to be completed as well. Once you have purchased and moved into your new home, there will be utility and maintenance costs as well as property taxes and home insurance that will contribute to your cost of living. The advantages of living in Utah are many, but the high cost of buying a home is not one of them. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )

Tax-friendly states could translate to a lower cost of living for some.

Although Utah has taxes in the major tax categories: Income, sales, and corporate, overall it is a tax-friendly state. The highest individual tax rate is 4.95%. The basic state sales tax rate is at 4.7% with some additional local taxes bringing the effective rate to 5.9-8.7% depending on the location within the state. Utah has been implementing tax reforms in recent years that are designed to reduce the overall tax burden on residents, increasing the potential for a lower cost of living. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )

Rent vs Buy: Renting could be the better choice for a lower cost of living

The largest contributor to any cost of living estimate is housing. Understanding the housing market and costs for a location can be complex. Renting can give you a chance to try out a location before making the major commitment of buying a home. In Utah, renting a home can actually be more economical than buying. Renting generally has fewer up-front costs and maintenance is generally included, eliminating that responsibility and expense and could potentially leave you with more disposable income and a lower cost of living. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )

Healthcare access and affordability and your cost of living

Utah is ranked number 32 out of all states in overall healthcare access and affordability. Healthcare costs make up a significant part of the cost of living. The ability to afford healthcare as well as the ability to access care are key indicators of how much you will be paying for this important resource if you move to another state. Affordability is generally measured by the rates set for insurance coverage in a state, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses that need to be paid by you when receiving the care. If rates or out-of-pocket expenses are high, your cost of living will increase. Access to healthcare is how easy or difficult it may be to receive the care. Access is measured by identifying barriers that might prevent the delivery of care such as the inability to obtain insurance coverage, having to travel long distances to health care centers and lack of sufficient facilities and/or healthcare professionals. The timeliness of care, how fast you can get to see a healthcare provider, is another important measure. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )



Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2024-02-26 salary.com )


Last Update: 2024-02-26