Cost of Living in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Salt Lake City, UT to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Salt Lake City, UT?
With a price level of 100.9 (U.S. average = 100), Salt Lake City, UT is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 23% 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 housing.
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| Housing | 123.3 | +23.3% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 79.0 | −21.0% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Salt Lake City, UT
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,238 | $49,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,426 | $57,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,717 | $68,680/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,294 | $91,760/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,632 | $105,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City, UT | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,300 | $33,714 |
| $60,000 | $60,500 | $49,035 |
| $80,000 | $80,700 | $62,937 |
| $100,000 | $100,900 | $76,239 |
| $150,000 | $151,300 | $108,837 |
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 Salt Lake City, UT's median wage of $55,240 takes home about $3,754 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,426, which is 38% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,328 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT
- Federal income tax$4,449
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,425
- Medicare (1.45%)$801
- Utah income tax$1,520
- Take-home pay$45,046
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $168,060 | $119,538 | $118,510 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $160,810 | $114,909 | $113,920 |
| Financial Manager | $158,720 | $113,575 | $112,597 |
| Sales Manager | $143,930 | $104,131 | $103,235 |
| Managers, All Other | $140,760 | $102,107 | $101,229 |
| Marketing Manager | $139,830 | $101,513 | $100,640 |
| Lawyer | $136,990 | $99,700 | $98,842 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $130,160 | $95,339 | $94,519 |
| Software Developer | $129,600 | $94,982 | $94,164 |
| Data Scientist | $114,990 | $85,517 | $84,781 |
| Industrial Engineer | $105,920 | $79,544 | $78,860 |
| General and Operations Manager | $103,710 | $78,089 | $77,417 |
| Civil Engineer | $98,800 | $74,856 | $74,212 |
| Project Management Specialist | $98,000 | $74,329 | $73,689 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $97,470 | $73,980 | $73,343 |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $91,100 | $69,785 | $69,185 |
| Registered Nurse | $85,890 | $66,355 | $65,784 |
| Accountant and Auditor | $82,100 | $63,859 | $63,309 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $80,970 | $63,115 | $62,572 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,210 | $61,956 | $61,423 |
*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.
Salt Lake City, UT vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 100.9 | $1,426 | $55,240 | 826,210 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 96.9 | $1,119 | $51,160 | 820,780 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 99.5 | $1,374 | $48,830 | 765,930 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 97.9 | $1,508 | $49,430 | 763,060 |
| Raleigh, NC | 98.2 | $1,596 | $51,990 | 743,120 |
| Providence, RI | 101.8 | $1,423 | $53,680 | 714,120 |
| Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $1,026 | $48,370 | 685,190 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Salt Lake City, UT expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area are 100.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 123.3%. It is the #73 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Salt Lake City, UT?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,521 in Salt Lake City, UT (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $55,240.
Can you afford Salt Lake City, UT on the median wage?
A single worker on the $55,240 median wage takes home about $3,754 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,426 would take 38% of that.
How much is rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Salt Lake City, UT are $1,238 for a studio, $1,426 for one bedroom, $1,717 for two bedrooms and $2,294 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Salt Lake City, UT
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $160,810
- Financial Manager — $158,720
- Sales Manager — $143,930
- Managers, All Other — $140,760
- Marketing Manager — $139,830
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $130,160
- General and Operations Manager — $103,710
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $98,000
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $91,100
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,100
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $78,880
- Compliance Officer — $75,360
- Human Resources Specialist — $74,410
- Training and Development Specialist — $67,720
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $64,670
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $129,600
- Data Scientist — $114,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $97,470
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,410
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $105,920
- Civil Engineer — $98,800
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $63,100
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $40,650
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $136,990
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $168,060
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $77,920
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,490
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $41,620
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,340
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $85,890
- Pharmacy Technician — $49,250
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $48,630
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,080
- Nursing Assistant — $40,510
- Dental Assistant — $38,330
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,130
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,970
- Security Guard — $43,260
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,700
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $32,320
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,070
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $43,890
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $37,060
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,970
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $45,520
- Recreation Worker — $32,940
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,590
Sales and Related Occupations
- Insurance Sales Agent — $65,530
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $65,520
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $63,340
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,560
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,570
- Retail Salesperson — $34,420
- Cashier — $33,390
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,890
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $63,490
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $51,320
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,910
- Customer Service Representative — $45,410
- Office Clerks, General — $45,220
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $39,050
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk — $38,660
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,730
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $64,800
- Electrician — $62,620
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $61,750
- Carpenter — $59,870
- Construction Laborer — $47,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $79,210
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $60,790
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $52,650
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,280
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $73,330
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,790
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,890
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $66,140
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,310
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,470
- Light Truck Driver — $46,990
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,190
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,510