Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 17% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$997
+48% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,166
+34% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,461
+33% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,993
+25% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$495,700
+36% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$74,925
+17% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$55,240
+1% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.0 yr
+2.9 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
46.8%
+0.9 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
50.9%
+22.1 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
28.2 min
19.6 min
+8.6 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
878.8
+47% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
2,234.9
5,257.3
+135% in Salt Lake City, UT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
52.8°F
+14.3°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
16.1 in
+2.7 in in Salt Lake City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$4.29/gal
+21% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.0
+61% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$10.26
+50% in Anaheim, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / UT)
7.25%
6.1%
+1.2 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.50%
+8.8 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Salt Lake City?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).