Salt Lake City vs Reno
Salt Lake City, UT · Reno, NV
Salt Lake City and Reno have similar costs of living.
Home Price
Salt: $485,000
Reno: $465,000
Monthly Rent
Salt: $1,149/mo
Reno: $1,294/mo
COL Index
Salt: 111
Reno: 112
Median Income
Salt: $77,200
Reno: $67,400
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 Salt Lake City has the same purchasing power as $100,901 in Reno — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Reno cost 4% more (-$20,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Salt Lake City saves you $145/month — $1,740 per year. Median rent: $1,149/mo in Salt Lake City vs $1,294/mo in Reno.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Salt Lake City owners pay roughly $2,571/year in property taxes vs $2,790/year in Reno. That's a $220 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $77,200 in Salt Lake City and $67,400 in Reno. Reno residents earn 13% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 23 minutes in Salt Lake City vs 22 minutes in Reno. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Salt Lake City to Reno, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Salt Lake City | Equivalent in Reno | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $50,450 | +$450 |
| $75,000 | $75,676 | +$676 |
| $100,000 | $100,901 | +$901 |
| $150,000 | $151,351 | +$1,351 |
| $200,000 | $201,802 | +$1,802 |
* 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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Salt Lake City Calculators
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Salt Lake City vs Reno: Common Questions
Is Salt Lake City or Reno cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Salt Lake City is cheaper overall. Salt Lake City has a COL index of 111 while Reno scores 112 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Salt Lake City and Reno?
The median home price in Salt Lake City is $485,000 vs $465,000 in Reno — a difference of $20,000 (4%).
What salary do I need in Reno to match my Salt Lake City income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Salt Lake City is equivalent to $100,901 in Reno in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Salt Lake City has a lower property tax rate (0.53% vs 0.6%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,571/year vs $2,790/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.