| Index | St. George | Utah | National |
| Cost of living | 116 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 150 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 105 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in St. George allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in St. George stands at 116, marking it 16% higher than the national average.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in St. George, 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 49.6% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 34 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in St. George. The feedback revealed that 21% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 79% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is St. George affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in St. George, the median home price is 64.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 14.6% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with St. George boasting a median household income of $88,815, 9.2% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in St. George starts at 6.1% and the income tax rates start at 4.85%.
The St. George cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $105,704 | $8,809 | $2,466 | $3,171 |
| Renters | $61,291 | $5,108 | $1,430 | $1,839 |
| 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. |
| Washington, UT | 28,756 | 122 | 21.5% |
| Ivins, UT | 9,178 | 123 | 22.6% |
| Santa Clara, UT | 8,103 | 124 | 23.9% |
| Toquerville, UT | 1,750 | 127 | 27.2% |
| Leeds, UT | 667 | 138 | 37.6% |
| St. George, UT | 88,946 | 116 | 16.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Avondale, AZ | 88,981 | 111 | 11.1% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 89,091 | 101 | 0.8% |
| Newmarket, ON | 88,702 | n/a | |
| Hawthorne, CA | 88,587 | 165 | 64.8% |
| Peterborough, ON | 89,500 | n/a | |
| St. George, UT | 88,946 | 116 | 16.1% |
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