What it actually costs to live in Utah.
Utah’s cost-of-living index sits at 108 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #17 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Utah costs about 8% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $535,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,218/mo.
Utah cost components
| Component | Utah | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 108 | 100 |
| Median home price | $535,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,218/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $180/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Utah compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Utah ranks #17 for cost. That places Utah in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Utah metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Salt Lake City has very different housing dynamics than smaller Utah metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- Salt Lake CityCOL 111 · home $485,000rent $1,149/mo →
- ProvoCOL 106 · home $450,000rent $1,200/mo →
- OgdenCOL 98 · home $395,000rent $1,300/mo →
- St. GeorgeCOL 102 · home $475,000rent $1,450/mo →
More Utah metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Utah cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Utah?
Utah's MERIC cost-of-living index is 108 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Utah costs about 8% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Utah?
Utah's state-level median home price is approximately $535,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Utah?
Utah's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,218/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Utah-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Salt Lake City and Utah County (Provo) home prices appreciated 60%+ since 2020 driven by tech in-migration ("Silicon Slopes"); Park City carries luxury ski-resort premium.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.