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Cost of living in Salt Lake City, UT

Livability score 64 · cost-of-living index 97.1 (US = 100)

Salt Lake City, UT
Photo: Invictus323 via Commons · CC BY 4.0

How Salt Lake City compares

Where Salt Lake City falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 97 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 97 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $569k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $569k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $271 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $271 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.2% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.2% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.59% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.59% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 260 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 260 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 13.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 13.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 92° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 92° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 24° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 24°

Map of Salt Lake City

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 97.1 metro-area #113 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 94.7 metro-area #59 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.53 metro-area #113 of 200
Median household income $90,277 metro-area #30 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $43,623 metro-area #57 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 33.7 years metro-area #18 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.8% metro-area #58 of 200
Foreign-born residents 12.4% metro-area #57 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 67.8% metro-area #77 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 3.61% metro-area #17 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +7.2% metro-area #51 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $568,656 metro-area #177 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.3× metro-area #165 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +1.3% metro-area #102 of 200
Price per square foot $271 metro-area #165 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,100 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,641 metro-area #109 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 4,000
Median days on market 15 metro-area #85 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.1% state #154 of 200
Combined sales tax 7.19% state #88 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 4.55%
Capital gains tax 4.65% state #102 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Taxed — taxes Social Security benefits, but income thresholds and age rules exempt many retirees — check the state's own limits before assuming you would owe
Effective property tax rate 0.59% metro-area #34 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,562 metro-area #94 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 78.5 years metro-area #51 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,000 state #4 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 10.2% metro-area #129 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 72 metro-area #112 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $150 state #125 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Required
Emissions detail Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices 8
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #58 of 200
Commute by driving alone 67.0% metro-area #23 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 27.0% metro-area #54 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 13.3¢/kWh state #5 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $120 state #3 of 200
Gasoline $3.60/gal state #159 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $187 state #190 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,500 state #41 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 95.7 — Relatively High metro-area #153 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $500 state #1 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $450 state #168 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 56 metro-area #181 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,100 metro-area #99 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 92% state #105 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,100 metro-area #130 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 52 metro-area #130 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 5 metro-area #166 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 92°F metro-area #163 of 200
Avg winter low 24°F metro-area #124 of 200
Annual precipitation 15.5" metro-area #28 of 200
Annual snowfall 51.9" metro-area #188 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 66% metro-area #47 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 6b
Frost window 04-20 → 10-20

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 260 state #15 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,200 state #98 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 25 metro-area #145 of 200
Parks 22
Hiking areas 6
Golf courses 27
Shooting ranges 10
Lakes 10

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Salt Lake City

Major public and private employers in the Salt Lake City, UT area.

EmployerSectorJobs
University of Utah Education Search →
Intermountain Healthcare Healthcare Careers →
Brigham Young University Education Search →
Salt Lake County Government Search →
Delta Air Lines transportation Careers →
Zions Bancorporation Finance Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Salt Lake City

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $137,910
Pharmacists $137,450
Financial Managers $135,480
Marketing Managers $130,490
Physician Assistants $128,000
Lawyers $122,590
Software Developers $115,750
Human Resources Managers $114,830
Construction Managers $98,330
Data Scientists $98,010
Physical Therapists $95,920
General & Operations Managers $94,180
Mechanical Engineers $93,740
Civil Engineers $89,240
Registered Nurses $80,060
Dental Hygienists $79,880
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,390
Accountants & Auditors $76,090
Elementary School Teachers $63,470
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $62,500
Web Developers $62,150
Electricians $61,670
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,200
Graphic Designers $59,990
Real Estate Sales Agents $59,640
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $55,160
Carpenters $54,020
Medical Assistants $42,820

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