Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Rochester?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Provo or Rochester?

Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Provo vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 28% higher in Rochester, MN. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Provo, UT

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,009

$1,080

+7% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,106

+13% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,128

$1,243

+10% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,646

+19% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$437,100

$287,500

+34% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,800

$87,767

+40% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,010

$60,620

+26% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

23.7 yr

36.4 yr

+12.7 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

39.9%

65.4%

+25.5 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.0%

50.1%

+5.1 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

18.5 min

17.2 min

+1.3 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

205.7

158.9

+23% in Provo, UT

Property Crime

1,280.6

1,379

+8% in Rochester, MN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.4°F

45.4°F

+8.0°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

19.8 in

33.0 in

+13.3 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.96/gal

+7% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

17.5

+31% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.84

$14.79

+25% in Rochester, MN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / MN)

6.1%

6.875%

+0.8 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

9.85%

+5.3 pp in MN

Provo vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Rochester?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Rochester?: Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).