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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. On a $75K 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 come…
113,343 residents · Utah
The #1 spot goes to Provo, and the breakdown explains why. And in practical terms, renters here pay $1,448/month — saving renters $5,364 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 84, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
134,470 residents · Utah
In plain English: West Valley is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,560/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 91. Income sits at $88,604. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
209,593 residents · Utah
Here's the thing: a closer look at Salt Lake: the cost index of 93 breaks down to a Housing index of 93 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Fairly typical for a city this size. Median rent is $1,592/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $74,925, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
114,908 residents · Utah
Here's West Jordan by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 96. Rent: $1,651/month. Income: $103,960/year. Home price: $555,810. Population: 114,908. The strongest category is Housing at 96; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,928 per year vs. the national median. That level of affordability is getting rarer every year.
#1 Ranked: Provo — cost index 84, rent $1,448/mo, income $62,800
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K 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 | 23% | 84 | Details |
| 2 | West Valley | $1,560 | 25% | 91 | Details |
| 3 | Salt Lake | $1,592 | 25% | 93 | Details |
| 4 | West Jordan | $1,651 | 26% | 96 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K 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.
At $1,448/month for rent and a cost index of 84, Provo is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $62,800. Nothing too surprising there.
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K 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% | $54,297 |
2West Valley | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,297 |
3Salt Lake | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,297 |
4West Jordan | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,297 |
Provo ranks #1 in Utah for this analysis with a cost index of 84 and median income of $62,800.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Provo, rent would consume about 23% 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 $75K in Provo is approximately $54,297/year ($4,525/month). After median rent of $1,448/month, you'd have roughly $36,921/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.