Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Provo?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Provo?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 15% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,009

+7% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$978

+17% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,128

+20% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,381

+24% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$437,100

+58% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$62,800

+15% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$48,010

+7% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

23.7 yr

+9.9 yr in Arlington, TX

Homeownership

54.8%

39.9%

+14.9 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

45.0%

+11.9 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

26.7 min

18.5 min

+8.2 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

205.7

+58% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

1,280.6

+47% in Arlington, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

53.4°F

+12.0°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

19.8 in

+19.9 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.27/gal

+19% in Provo, UT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

13.4

+16% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$11.84

+63% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / UT)

6.25%

6.1%

+0.2 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Arlington vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Provo?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Provo 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).