Cost of living in Utah
Prices in Utah are 1.1% below the US average (21st highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,110 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6.1%.
Price levels in Utah
| BEA RPP 2024 | Utah | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.9 | −1.1% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 107.8 | +7.8% |
| Utilities | 78.7 | −21.3% |
| Other services | 99.0 | −1.0% |
Metros in Utah
Metros whose principal city is in Utah. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 1,308,377 | 100.9 | $1,615 | $226 | $1,042 |
| Provo, UT | 773,426 | 98.2 | $1,363 | $226 | $1,199 |
| Ogden, UT | 672,784 | 100.3 | $1,591 | $226 | $1,140 |
| St. George, UT | 213,670 | 97.3 | $1,657 | $226 | $1,124 |
| Logan, UT-ID | 160,889 | 95.9 | $1,265 | $226 | $1,424 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Utah (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Utah income tax | $1,672 | $3,110 | $5,340 | $4,241 |
| Utah payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,390 | $4,874 | $7,326 | $8,412 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Utah’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,110 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Utah
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $226 | $14,383 | $168 |
| Toddler (2) | $184 | $11,688 | $156 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $168 | $10,683 | $148 |
| School-age (5–12) | $164 | $10,404 | $144 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $226 a week in Weber County to $229 in Beaver County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 29 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber County | $426,700 | $2,557 | 0.60% |
| Tooele County | $431,600 | $2,460 | 0.57% |
| Salt Lake County | $525,700 | $2,836 | 0.54% |
| Davis County | $505,500 | $2,665 | 0.53% |
| Morgan County | $654,900 | $3,411 | 0.52% |
| Cache County | $444,400 | $2,011 | 0.45% |
| Juab County | $425,400 | $1,914 | 0.45% |
| Utah County | $538,700 | $2,370 | 0.44% |
| Washington County | $510,700 | $2,158 | 0.42% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Utah
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 94,553 in, 85,775 out (net +8,778).
- California13,734 ±3,517
- Arizona9,643 ±2,547
- Idaho8,393 ±2,579
- Texas6,509 ±2,113
- Colorado5,224 ±1,404
- Washington5,051 ±2,028
- Oregon4,293 ±1,764
- Nevada3,563 ±1,136
- Texas8,688 ±3,343
- California8,564 ±2,267
- Arizona7,366 ±2,624
- Florida5,748 ±2,973
- Idaho5,417 ±1,302
- Colorado5,387 ±1,847
- Washington4,291 ±1,562
- Oregon3,727 ±1,331
Frequently asked questions
Is Utah expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Utah’s overall price level at 98.9 in 2024 (US = 100), the 21st highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 107.8 and goods 96.4.
Does Utah have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,110 in Utah income tax under 2026 law (4.1% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Utah?+
The state rate is 6.1% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 3%. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Utah?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Logan, UT-ID leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,424), and Salt Lake City, UT the least ($1,042).