United States
Cost of living in Utah
Cost of living in Utah registers at 98.9, about 1 percent below the US average of 100, ranking it 21st most expensive nationally. Utah applies a flat income tax of 4.5 percent, reduced from 4.55 percent at the start of 2025 under HB 106. Rather than a standard deduction, the state provides a nonrefundable taxpayer tax credit. The sales tax base rate is 6.1 percent, combining the state base of 4.85 percent with a uniform statewide local add-on of 1.25 percent collected everywhere. Despite sitting modestly below the national average overall, Utah's Wasatch Front, the urban corridor running from Provo through Salt Lake City to Ogden, has experienced some of the fastest housing appreciation in the country over the past decade. That growth has eroded much of the affordability advantage Utah once held over coastal markets. Rural Utah and the communities east and west of the Wasatch remain considerably less expensive.
Price level
98.9
US = 100
National rank
21st
of 51, dearest first
Income tax
4.5%
flat
Sales tax
6.1%
state base rate
What your salary is worth in Utah
Because prices here sit at 98.9 against the national 100, the same paycheck stretches differently than it would elsewhere. These figures hold buying power constant: the salary listed is what you would need in Utah to live as you would on the reference amount in another place.
| Same lifestyle as | $60,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| US average | $59,340 | $98,900 |
| California (dearest) | $53,604 | $89,341 |
| Arkansas (cheapest) | $68,285 | $113,809 |
Compare Utah with anywhere in the US
To live the same in California you need
$78,352
to match $70,000 in Utah
Price level, US = 100
The equivalent salary keeps your purchasing power constant: it is your pay scaled by the ratio of the two price levels. Regional Price Parities measure what a fixed basket of goods and services costs locally. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.
Utah in context
Population growth has been the primary driver of Utah's rising costs. The state has ranked among the fastest-growing in the nation for over a decade, attracting tech sector employment, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and domestic migrants from California and the Pacific Northwest. That influx has pushed housing demand well ahead of supply, particularly in Salt Lake City and its immediate suburbs. The flat income tax at 4.5 percent applies uniformly, but the absence of a standard deduction means residents cannot reduce their taxable income through the same mechanism most other states offer. The nonrefundable tax credit partially compensates but does not replicate a full deduction for lower-income households. Ski resort towns such as Park City carry prices well above the statewide average, while southern Utah communities near the national parks offer more affordable entry points for those who work remotely.
The closest state above Utah on price is Delaware at 99.8. Just below sits Minnesota at 98.6.
Frequently asked questions
Is Utah expensive to live in?
Utah sits at a price level of 98.9 where the US average is 100, so a typical basket of goods and services costs about 1% less than the national norm. That ranks it 21st most expensive of 51 states. Housing is usually the largest single driver of the gap.
What salary do you need in Utah?
To match the buying power of $60,000 earned at the US average, you would need about $59,340 in Utah. The figure scales with the price level: a place dearer than average needs more, a cheaper one needs less. Your own number also depends on housing choice and household size.
How much tax does Utah charge?
Utah applies a flat 4.5% state income tax and a base state sales tax of 6.1%. Flat 4.50% for 2025 (reduced from 4.55% by HB 106, retroactive to 1/1/2025). Utah has no traditional standard deduction; it uses a nonrefundable taxpayer tax credit instead, so standardDeduction is null. Sales tax: Tax Foundation reports Utah's state-level rate as 6.10% (4.85% state base plus a uniform 1.25% statewide local add-on collected everywhere). Local jurisdictions can add their own sales tax on top.
Cost of living in other states
Price levels are Regional Price Parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (SARPP, MARPP), 2024 (public domain). State tax figures are the latest published rates from state revenue departments. All figures are estimates for general comparison and not financial advice; your own costs depend on housing, household size and lifestyle.