Living Cost Compare
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT versus $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 12% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. 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.

Salt Lake City, UT
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$997
$884
+11% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,166
$903
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,461
$1,192
+18% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,993
$1,442
+28% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$495,700
$326,200
+34% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$74,925
$65,745
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,240
$54,660
+1% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.2 yr
+4.2 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
46.8%
58.3%
+11.5 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
50.9%
32.6%
+18.3 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
19.6 min
21.2 min
+1.6 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
878.8
683.6
+22% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
5,257.3
4,931.8
+6% 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
52.8°F
48.9°F
+3.9°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
16.1 in
17.8 in
+1.7 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$5.12/gal
+20% in Spokane, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.0
14.9
+15% in Spokane, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.26
$20.41
+99% in Spokane, 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

Salt Lake City vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salt Lake City or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Salt Lake City than in Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Salt Lake City versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Salt Lake City or Spokane?
Salt Lake City is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Spokane 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).