Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Washington?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Provo or Washington?

Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Provo vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 41% higher in Washington, DC. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Provo, UT

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$1,009

$1,763

+75% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,885

+93% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,128

$1,949

+73% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$2,249

+63% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$437,100

$724,600

+66% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$62,800

$106,287

+69% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,010

$71,060

+48% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

23.7 yr

34.9 yr

+11.2 yr in Washington, DC

Homeownership

39.9%

41.1%

+1.2 pp in Washington, DC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.0%

63.6%

+18.6 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

18.5 min

30.3 min

+11.8 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

205.7

936.3

+355% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

1,280.6

3,627.9

+183% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+4.8°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

19.8 in

39.7 in

+20.0 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

24.4

+82% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.84

$27.28

+130% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Washington, DC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / DC)

6.1%

+0.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

10.75%

+6.3 pp in DC

Provo vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Washington?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Washington?: Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).