What is the cost of living in Salt Lake City, UT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salt Lake City has an overall cost of living index of 124, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Utah, Salt Lake City has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Utah's index of 106.
The standard of living in Salt Lake City ranks as #64 most affordable out of the 93 places we measured in Utah. By definition, that implies Salt Lake City ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Beehive State.
For more reading on life in Salt Lake City, check out:
Salt Lake City Cost Of Living Vs. Utah
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salt Lake City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salt Lake City is 102.
The Groceries index in Salt Lake City is 105.
The Health index in Salt Lake City is 162.
The Housing index in Salt Lake City is 104.
The Transportation index in Salt Lake City is 106.
The Utilities index in Salt Lake City is 112.
| Living Expense | Salt Lake City | Utah | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 124 | 106 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Health | 162 | 111 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 103 | 100 |
Salt Lake City Cost Of Living Compared To Utah Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Utah, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Salt Lake City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Salt Lake City, UT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Utah, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Salt Lake City is $573,181.
The Median Rent in Salt Lake City is $1,414.
The Median Income in Salt Lake City is $75,090.
The Home Value To Income in Salt Lake City is 7.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salt Lake City is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Salt Lake City | Utah | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $573,181 | $537,809 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,414 | $1,496 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,090 | $95,166 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.6x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Salt Lake City, UT Costs By Category
Detailed Salt Lake City Services costs vs. Utah
| Item | Salt Lake City | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.18 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.94 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.8 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.87 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Salt Lake City Groceries costs vs. Utah
| Item | Salt Lake City | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.51 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.65 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.6 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.59 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.57 | $3.7 |
Detailed Salt Lake City Health costs vs. Utah
| Item | Salt Lake City | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.19 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $85.13 | $113.29 |
Detailed Salt Lake City Transportation costs vs. Utah
| Item | Salt Lake City | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.07 | $59.92 |
Detailed Salt Lake City Utilities costs vs. Utah
| Item | Salt Lake City | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $198.43 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.11 | $192.25 |
