F
28%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
87%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Sandy Utah National
Cost of living128104100
Goods & Services106102100
Groceries10099100
Health care9691100
Housing187114100
Transportation110105100
Utilities9495100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sandy, UT

Understanding the cost of living in Sandy can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Sandy cost of living index is 128, which is 28% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Sandy may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Sandy falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in Sandy, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 86.7% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Sandy Affordable?

Is Sandy affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Sandy, for instance, where the median home price falls 103.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 47.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Sandy flaunting a median household income of $95,715, 73% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sandy?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Sandy, the housing index comes in at 86.7% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Sandy, the transportation index stands at 10% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Sandy, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.1%, and income tax rates begin at 4.85%.

Where is the Data From?

The Sandy cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sandy is 23% higher than the Utah average
  • The cost of living in Sandy is 28% higher than the national average
  • Sandy housing is 87% higher than the national average
  • Utah general sales tax is 20% higher than the national average
  • Utah state income tax is 115% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Sandy

See all the best places to live around Sandy

Compare Sandy, UT Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$108,089$9,007$2,522$3,243
      Renters$59,992$4,999$1,400$1,800
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Sandy, UT, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Sandy homeowners, is $108,089. This would allow for a maximum of $2,522 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $59,992 which would result in a maximum of $1,400 to be spent on rental costs.

      Utah Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Utah 6.1% 8.35%

      Utah Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Utah 4.85% 4.85%

      Goods & Services

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.87$24.2614.0%
      Beauty Salon $50.33$45.5610.5%
      Toothpaste $3.57$3.703.6%
      Shampoo $1.18$1.288.1%
      Movie $9.94$12.1318.1%
      Bowling $19.80$18.0010.0%

      Groceries

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.76$5.841.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.51$1.574.2%
      Milk $4.65$4.670.4%
      Potatoes $4.60$4.936.7%
      Pizza $11.69$12.093.3%
      Beer $10.59$10.411.7%

      Health Care

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.19$125.680.4%
      Doctor $117.14$135.7813.7%
      Dentist $85.13$113.2924.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.89$10.652.3%
      Lipitor $528.57$468.6012.8%

      Housing

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      Home Price $375,800.00$184,700.00103.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,117.82$2,346.6932.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,399.00$949.0047.4%

      Transportation

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.75$3.468.3%
      Tire Balancing $57.07$59.924.8%

      Utilities

      Item Sandy National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $198.43$193.992.3%
      Phone $192.11$192.250.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Copperton, UT8391076.6%
      Magna, UT27,0291098.8%
      South Salt Lake, UT25,1251109.6%
      Kearns, UT36,45711110.7%
      West Valley City, UT135,61011110.9%
      Sandy, UT96,13712828.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      San Marcos, CA96,21916363.4%
      Brossard, QC96,033n/a 
      Pickering, ON96,267n/a 
      Flint, MI95,9998119.1%
      Longmont, CO95,86412928.6%
      Sandy, UT96,13712828.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.