Living Cost Compare
Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 49% higher in Seattle, WA. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Provo, UT
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,009
$1,638
+62% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,858
+90% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,128
$2,359
+109% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$2,918
+111% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$437,100
$912,100
+109% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,800
$121,984
+94% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,010
$72,610
+51% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
23.7 yr
35.5 yr
+11.8 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
39.9%
44.2%
+4.3 pp in Seattle, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.0%
67.5%
+22.5 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
18.5 min
26.6 min
+8.1 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
205.7
788.6
+283% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,280.6
5,108.8
+299% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+0.1°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
19.8 in
37.7 in
+18.0 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.41/gal
+27% in Seattle, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
14.9
+12% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.84
$21.34
+80% in Seattle, WA

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 (UT / WA)
6.1%
6.5%
+0.4 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in UT

Provo vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Seattle?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Seattle?
Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).