C
19%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
62%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 American Fork Utah National
Cost of living119104100
Goods & Services102102100
Groceries9899100
Health care9691100
Housing162114100
Transportation107105100
Utilities9195100

An Overview of Cost of Living in American Fork, UT

Getting a feel for the cost of living in American Fork is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in American Fork is 119, which is 19% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in American Fork, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 61.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is American Fork Affordable?

Is American Fork an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in American Fork is 74.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 32.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. American Fork has a median household income of $78,690, which is 42.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in American Fork?

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In American Fork, the transportation index is 7.1% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In American Fork, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.1%, and income tax rates start at 4.85%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in American Fork, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in American Fork Area
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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in American Fork is 14% higher than the Utah average
  • The cost of living in American Fork is 19% higher than the national average
  • American Fork housing is 62% 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 American Fork

See all the best places to live around American Fork

Compare American Fork, UT Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$85,750$7,146$2,001$2,573
      Renters$59,801$4,983$1,395$1,794
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in American Fork is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. American Fork has a median income of about $85,750 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,001 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $59,801. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,395 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 American Fork National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.85$24.2614.1%
      Beauty Salon $48.42$45.566.3%
      Toothpaste $3.58$3.703.4%
      Shampoo $1.18$1.287.6%
      Movie $12.31$12.131.5%
      Bowling $20.93$18.0016.3%

      Groceries

      Item American Fork National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.79$5.840.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.9%
      Milk $4.62$4.671.2%
      Potatoes $4.61$4.936.6%
      Pizza $12.02$12.090.5%
      Beer $10.69$10.412.6%

      Health Care

      Item American Fork National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $119.08$125.685.3%
      Doctor $128.07$135.785.7%
      Dentist $99.10$113.2912.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.51$10.651.3%
      Lipitor $546.75$468.6016.7%

      Housing

      Item American Fork National avg. Difference
      Home Price $322,500.00$184,700.0074.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,790.73$2,346.6918.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,256.00$949.0032.3%

      Transportation

      Item American Fork National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.58$3.463.4%
      Tire Balancing $69.63$59.9216.2%

      Utilities

      Item American Fork National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $165.50$193.9914.7%
      Phone $192.69$192.250.2%
      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.
      Provo, UT116,88611212.4%
      Orem, UT97,88311413.7%
      White City, UT5,79211616.1%
      Pleasant Grove, UT38,47411818.4%
      Eagle Mountain, UT35,43112221.5%
      American Fork, UT31,63611918.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Alamogordo, NM31,6358713.2%
      Bowling Green, OH31,638973.2%
      Clearfield, UT31,6221055.3%
      Harker Heights, TX31,657972.9%
      Laguna Hills, CA31,61318382.6%
      American Fork, UT31,63611918.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.