Cost of Living in Provo, UT
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Provo, UT to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Provo, UT?
With a price level of 98.2 (U.S. average = 100), Provo, UT is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 4% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 21% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Provo, UT vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | −1.8% |
| Housing | 104.1 | +4.1% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 78.6 | −21.4% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Provo, UT
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,257 | $50,280/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,265 | $50,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,460 | $58,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,031 | $81,240/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,449 | $97,960/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Provo, UT
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Provo, UT | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,300 | $32,955 |
| $60,000 | $58,900 | $47,822 |
| $80,000 | $78,600 | $61,554 |
| $100,000 | $98,200 | $74,461 |
| $150,000 | $147,300 | $106,283 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Utah 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Provo, UT's median wage of $48,010 takes home about $3,297 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,265, which is 38% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,032 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Provo, UT
- Federal income tax$3,581
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,977
- Medicare (1.45%)$696
- Utah income tax$1,194
- Take-home pay$39,562
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Provo, UT
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Utah cities
Half of Utah’s 1,735,590 workers earn less than $50,110 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,520–$78,560 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Salt Lake City, UT stretches a paycheck furthest, while St. George, UT is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | $55,240 | 100.9 | $1,426 | 38% | $2,328 | $44,658 |
| Provo, UT | $48,010 | 98.2 | $1,265 | 38% | $2,032 | $40,274 |
| Ogden, UT | $48,900 | 100.3 | $1,281 | 38% | $2,072 | $40,097 |
| St. George, UT | $45,140 | 97.3 | $1,218 | 39% | $1,897 | $38,414 |
| Logan, UT | $46,360 | 95.9 | $946 | 30% | $2,247 | $39,937 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Provo, UT vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 98.2 | $1,265 | $48,010 | 304,660 |
| Cape Coral, FL | 102.3 | $1,638 | $46,780 | 304,790 |
| Wichita, KS | 88.9 | $848 | $47,630 | 308,570 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | $1,123 | $52,990 | 300,130 |
| McAllen, TX | 85.9 | $847 | $35,830 | 296,700 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 100.7 | $1,461 | $52,710 | 316,060 |
| Toledo, OH | 91.5 | $820 | $48,220 | 291,530 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Provo, UT expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area are 98.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 104.1%. It is the #110 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Provo, UT?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,939 in Provo, UT (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,010.
Can you afford Provo, UT on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,010 median wage takes home about $3,297 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,265 would take 38% of that.
How much is rent in Provo, UT?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Provo, UT are $1,257 for a studio, $1,265 for one bedroom, $1,460 for two bedrooms and $2,031 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Provo, UT
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $95,790
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $88,180
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,700
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $62,960
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $131,210
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,390
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $75,230
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $62,930
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,770
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,780
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,310
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,610
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,710
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $39,220
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $31,190
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $61,220
- Retail Salesperson — $33,120
- Cashier — $31,600
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $65,530
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,120
- Office Clerks, General — $43,080
- Customer Service Representative — $39,560
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $36,770
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,070
- Carpenter — $53,230
- Construction Laborer — $46,640
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,990
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,600
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,480