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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. That alone makes it worth considering. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Utah using 2026 c…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Provo has increased from $1,407 to $1,448/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. That alone makes it worth considering. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Utah using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Provo comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Provo is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,448/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. Moving on. The cost index is 105. Income sits at $62,800. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Provo ($1,448/mo, 17%), West Valley ($1,560/mo, 19%), Salt Lake ($1,592/mo, 19%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $70,747 to $70,747/year across these top picks.
Bottom line: Provo leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Provo — cost index 105, rent $1,448/mo, income $62,800
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Provo | $1,448 | 17% | 105 | Details |
| 2 | West Valley | $1,560 | 19% | 106 | Details |
| 3 | Salt Lake | $1,592 | 19% | 111 | Details |
| 4 | West Jordan | $1,651 | 20% | 112 | Details |
113,343 residents · Utah
Why Provo ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And more often than not, at 105 on the cost index, residents save roughly 7% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,448/month while the median household pulls in $62,800/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 97, though Housing (113) lags behind. Home prices average $478,858 — $11,488 above the national median.
134,470 residents · Utah
West Valley earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 106 cost index sits 6 points below the national baseline, and the $88,604 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $466,390 — $980 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 98, while Housing trails at 116 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
209,593 residents · Utah
So, Salt Lake. Cost index of 111, rent at $1,592/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $74,925, which is below the national median. Moving on.
114,908 residents · Utah
Why West Jordan ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 112 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 0% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,651/month while the median household pulls in $103,960/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 103, though Housing (130) lags behind. Home prices average $555,810 — $88,440 above the national median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Provo | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $70,747 |
2West Valley | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $70,747 |
3Salt Lake | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $70,747 |
4West Jordan | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $70,747 |
Provo ranks #1 in Utah for this analysis with a cost index of 105 and median income of $62,800.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Provo, rent would consume about 17% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Provo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,448/mo, while West Jordan (ranked #4) has a cost index of 112 and rent of $1,651/mo — a 7-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Provo is $1,448/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $447 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.55% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Provo is approximately $70,747/year ($5,896/month). After median rent of $1,448/month, you'd have roughly $53,371/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Provo is $478,858, which is 7.6× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Utah has a 4.55% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.21%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.52%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.