C-
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
64%
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 Salt Lake City Utah National
Cost of living122104100
Goods & Services106102100
Groceries10099100
Health care9691100
Housing164114100
Transportation110105100
Utilities9495100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Salt Lake City, UT

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Salt Lake City? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Salt Lake City stands at 122, making it 22% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Salt Lake City 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, Salt Lake City falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Salt Lake City cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 64.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Salt Lake City?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 18 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Salt Lake City and this is how they responded. 44% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 56% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Salt Lake City Affordable?

Is Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City, for instance, where the median home price falls 87.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 10.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Salt Lake City flaunting a median household income of $63,156, 14.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Salt Lake City?

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.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Salt Lake City, healthcare costs are 3.8% lower than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Salt Lake City, the housing index is 64.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Salt Lake City 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Salt Lake City is 16% higher than the Utah average
  • The cost of living in Salt Lake City is 22% higher than the national average
  • Salt Lake City housing is 64% higher than the national average
  • Utah general sales tax is 20% higher than the national average
  • Utah state income tax is 87% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Salt Lake City

See all the best places to live around Salt Lake City

Compare Salt Lake City, 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$91,904$7,659$2,144$2,757
      Renters$43,674$3,640$1,019$1,310
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Salt Lake City, UT, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Salt Lake City, homeowners have a median income of $91,904. Using that number, a maximum of $2,144 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $43,674, which means there is a maximum of $1,019 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $346,100.00$184,700.0087.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,117.82$2,346.6932.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,050.00$949.0010.6%

      Transportation

      Item Salt Lake City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.75$3.468.3%
      Tire Balancing $57.07$59.924.8%

      Utilities

      Item Salt Lake City 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%
      Salt Lake City, UT200,13312221.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Yonkers, NY200,18314444.0%
      Huntsville, AL199,845982.1%
      Huntington Beach, CA199,77818787.4%
      Grand Rapids, MI199,417927.7%
      Glendale, CA199,35719190.5%
      Salt Lake City, UT200,13312221.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.