Is Salt Lake City expensive to live in?

Salt Lake City is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,166 per month ranks #46 of 112 and is 8% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Salt Lake City?

Average rent in Salt Lake City, UT runs a studio around $997, a one-bedroom around $1,166, a two-bedroom around $1,461, a three-bedroom around $1,993 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Salt Lake City?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,166 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $74,925.

How much does it cost to live in Salt Lake City per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Salt Lake City is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Salt Lake City, UT

Population 203,888 · Utah

~$1,300/mo est.1BR $1,166Home $495,700

Photo: Brent Pace / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Salt Lake City, UT is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,166 a month — 8% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $997 and two-bedrooms $1,461.

Median household income here is $74,925, 8% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,300 before food and transport. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,166

Studio

$997

1 Bedroom

$1,166

2 Bedroom

$1,461

3 Bedroom

$1,993

Buying a Home$495,700

Median Home Value

$495,700

Income$74,925

Median Household Income

$74,925

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,240

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.82

Bread (lb)

$2.04

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities13.0¢/kWh

Electricity

13.0¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$10.26/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.29/gal

Regular Gasoline (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4))

$4.29/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (UT)6.1% sales

State Sales Tax

6.10%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.50%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime878.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

878.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

5,257.3

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Salt Lake City Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.0 yrs

Median Age

33.0 yrs

Homeownership

46.8%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

50.9%

Avg Commute

19.6 min

Climate52.8°F

Avg Annual Temperature

52.8°F

Annual Precipitation

16.1 in

Salt Lake City cost of living — FAQ

Is Salt Lake City expensive to live in?: Salt Lake City is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,166 per month ranks #46 of 112 and is 8% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Salt Lake City?: Average rent in Salt Lake City, UT runs a studio around $997, a one-bedroom around $1,166, a two-bedroom around $1,461, a three-bedroom around $1,993 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Salt Lake City?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,166 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $74,925.
How much does it cost to live in Salt Lake City per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Salt Lake City is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Salt Lake City with nearby cities

Salt Lake City vs Boise Salt Lake City vs Las Vegas Salt Lake City vs Henderson Salt Lake City vs Cheyenne Salt Lake City vs Denver Salt Lake City vs Aurora

Nearby cities

Boise, ID 296 mi Las Vegas, NV 363 mi Henderson, NV 367 mi Cheyenne, WY 370 mi Denver, CO 371 mi Aurora, CO 379 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.