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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real talk: 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. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Utah using 2026 census, rent, and salary data…
113,343 residents · Utah
In plain English: Why Provo ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 84 on the cost index, residents save roughly 27% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,448/month while the median household pulls in $62,800/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 84, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $478,858 — $11,488 above the national median.
134,470 residents · Utah
Here's West Valley by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And in practical terms, cost index: 91. Rent: $1,560/month. Income: $88,604/year. Home price: $466,390. Population: 134,470. The strongest category is Housing at 91; the most expensive is Healthcare at 98. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $4,020 per year vs. the national median. There's real money on the table here.
209,593 residents · Utah
Real talk: the numbers for Salt Lake are straightforward: 93 on the cost index, $1,592/month rent, $74,925 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. About what you'd guess.
114,908 residents · Utah
At $1,651/month for rent and a cost index of 96, West Jordan is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. You get the picture. Income is $103,960. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
#1 Ranked: Provo — cost index 84, 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% | 84 | Details |
| 2 | West Valley | $1,560 | 19% | 91 | Details |
| 3 | Salt Lake | $1,592 | 19% | 93 | Details |
| 4 | West Jordan | $1,651 | 20% | 96 | Details |
Real talk: 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. 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.
In plain English: Provo earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 84 cost index sits 27 points below the national baseline, and the $62,800 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $478,858 — $11,488 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 97.
Real talk: 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.
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.
| 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 84 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 84 and rent of $1,448/mo, while West Jordan (ranked #4) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,651/mo — a 12-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.