Phoenix vs Salt Lake City
Phoenix, AZ · Salt Lake City, UT
Phoenix is 5% cheaper than Salt Lake City overall.
Home Price
Phoenix: $420,000
Salt: $485,000
Monthly Rent
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
Salt: $1,149/mo
COL Index
Phoenix: 106
Salt: 111
Median Income
Phoenix: $67,600
Salt: $77,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Phoenix has the same purchasing power as $104,717 in Salt Lake City — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Salt Lake City are 15% cheaper (-$65,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Monthly rents are nearly identical in both cities. Median rent: $1,150/mo in Phoenix vs $1,149/mo in Salt Lake City.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Phoenix owners pay roughly $2,604/year in property taxes vs $2,571/year in Salt Lake City. That's a $34 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,600 in Phoenix and $77,200 in Salt Lake City. Phoenix residents earn 14% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Phoenix vs 23 minutes in Salt Lake City. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Phoenix | Equivalent in Salt Lake City | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $52,358 | +$2,358 |
| $75,000 | $78,538 | +$3,538 |
| $100,000 | $104,717 | +$4,717 |
| $150,000 | $157,075 | +$7,075 |
| $200,000 | $209,434 | +$9,434 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Phoenix Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Phoenix vs Salt Lake City: Common Questions
Is Phoenix or Salt Lake City cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Phoenix is cheaper overall. Phoenix has a COL index of 106 while Salt Lake City scores 111 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Phoenix and Salt Lake City?
The median home price in Phoenix is $420,000 vs $485,000 in Salt Lake City — a difference of $65,000 (15%).
What salary do I need in Salt Lake City to match my Phoenix income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $104,717 in Salt Lake City in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Salt Lake City has a lower property tax rate (0.53% vs 0.62%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,571/year vs $2,604/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.