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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Utah's value. And for many people, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Salt Lake at index 93, where median rent of $1,592/month saves renters $3,636/year versus the national median.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake | 93 | $1,592 | Details |
| 2 | West Valley | 91 | $1,560 | Details |
| 3 | West Jordan | 96 | $1,651 | Details |
| 4 | Provo | 84 | $1,448 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Salt Lake — cost index 93, rent $1,592/mo, income $74,925
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Utah's value. And for many people, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Salt Lake at index 93, where median rent of $1,592/month saves renters $3,636/year versus the national median.
The #1 spot goes to Salt Lake, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,592/month — saving renters $3,636 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 93, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (4.55% in Salt Lake), combined state+local sales tax (7.21%), and effective property tax (0.52%). At 4.55% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Salt Lake is $54,297/year.
Bottom line: Salt Lake 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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Salt Lake | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,248 |
2West Valley | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,248 |
3West Jordan | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,248 |
4Provo | 4.55% | 7.21% | 0.52% | $54,248 |
209,593 residents · Utah
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). 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.
134,470 residents · Utah
Dive into West Valley's numbers: cost index 91 (20 points below national average), rent $1,560/month, income $88,604, and a home price of $466,390. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 91, while Healthcare runs 98. With 134,470 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
114,908 residents · Utah
West Jordan earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 96 cost index sits 15 points below the national baseline, and the $103,960 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $555,810 — $88,440 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 96, while Healthcare trails at 99.
113,343 residents · Utah
Here's Provo by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 84. Rent: $1,448/month. Income: $62,800/year. Home price: $478,858. Population: 113,343. The strongest category is Housing at 84; the most expensive is Healthcare at 97. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,364 per year vs. the national median. If you plug these numbers into any cost calculator, they hold up.
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Salt Lake ranks #1 in Utah for this analysis with a cost index of 93 and median income of $74,925.
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.
Salt Lake (ranked #1) has a cost index of 93 and rent of $1,592/mo, while Provo (ranked #4) has a cost index of 84 and rent of $1,448/mo — a 9-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 Salt Lake is $1,592/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $303 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Salt Lake is $565,484, which is 7.5× 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.