| Index | Highland | Utah | National |
| Cost of living | 160 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 297 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 104 | 105 | 100 |

The cost of living in Highland affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Highland is 160, which is 60% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Highland is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Highland falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Highland cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 196.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Highland 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 Highland, for instance, where the median home price falls 233.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 111% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Highland flaunting a median household income of $219,470, 169.8% higher than the national norm.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Highland, the utilities index registers at 1.6% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Highland, the housing index is 196.6% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Highland shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $216,125 | $18,010 | $5,043 | $6,484 |
| Renters | $202,659 | $16,888 | $4,728 | $6,080 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Utah | 6.1% | 8.35% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Utah | 4.85% | 4.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Provo, UT | 119,883 | 114 | 13.5% |
| Midvale, UT | 34,477 | 115 | 14.9% |
| Orem, UT | 101,229 | 115 | 15.2% |
| White City, UT | 5,990 | 117 | 16.9% |
| West Jordan, UT | 117,770 | 121 | 20.6% |
| Highland, UT | 19,513 | 160 | 59.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Liberal, KS | 19,510 | 90 | 10.3% |
| Madisonville, KY | 19,522 | 89 | 11.1% |
| Valle Vista, CA | 19,530 | 115 | 15.4% |
| Sherrelwood, CO | 19,531 | 123 | 22.6% |
| Salmon Arm, BC | 19,494 | n/a | |
| Highland, UT | 19,513 | 160 | 59.8% |