Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 13% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$820
$997
+22% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$863
$1,166
+35% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,461
+38% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,993
+45% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$495,700
+107% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$74,925
+15% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$55,240
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
33.0 yr
+1.4 yr in Salt Lake City, UT
Homeownership
52.7%
46.8%
+5.9 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
50.9%
+4.7 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
22.2 min
19.6 min
+2.6 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
878.8
+227% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
2,294.1
5,257.3
+129% 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
61.5°F
52.8°F
+8.7°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
16.1 in
+20.4 in in Norman, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
13.0
+3% in Norman, OK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$10.26
+62% in Norman, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Norman, OK
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OK / UT)
4.5%
6.1%
+1.6 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
4.50%
about equal

Norman vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Salt Lake City?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Salt Lake City?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).