Cost of Living in Utah

By Jacqueline DeMarco

(Last Updated – 07/2026)

If you visit Utah, you may notice a lot of people with smiles on their faces. Utah is the sixth-happiest state in the country, according to a 2026 study by WalletHub, which took factors such as economic, emotional, physical, and social health into consideration when ranking all U.S. states.

If you want to get in on some of that happiness, a move to Utah may be in order. To get a better idea if a move to the Beehive State is the right fit for your finances, keep reading to learn more about the Utah cost of living. That way, you can keep your monthly budget happy too.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Utah?

Average Cost of Living in Utah: $52,677 Per Year

Before you make any decisions about where to put down roots, you might want to take your monthly budget into consideration.

Thinking about moving to Utah? Get ready to tap your savings or earn quite a bit, as Utah has the 30th lowest cost of living across the United States, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s (MERIC) Cost of Living Index. If Utah is out of your price range, you can consider making a move to nearby New Mexico, which ranks 11th, or Wyoming, which is in the same region but ranks 20th for states with the lowest cost of living. How much does it cost to live in Utah? According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average total personal consumption cost in Utah is $52,677 annually. Here’s a closer look at that spending:

Looked at as average monthly expenses, that’s about $4,390.

Housing Costs in Utah

Average Housing Costs in Utah: $1,593-$2,009 per month

Housing in Utah can be expensive in some areas, but in others, it can be on the affordable side. How much you’ll spend depends on what type of living arrangements you choose. With more than 1.3 million housing units, according to census data, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Utah’s typical home value was $541,277 in May 2026, according to Zillow, but this is what you can expect to spend monthly if owning or renting, the most recent census data shows:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $2,009

•  Median studio rent: $1,314

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $1,343

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,545

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,837

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $2,133

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $2,474

•  Median gross rent: $1,593

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Where you live in Utah can play a major role in how much you spend on housing. These are the typical home values for a handful of major Utah cities, according to Zillow, in May 2026:

Utility Costs in Utah

Average Utility Costs in Utah: $374 per month

How much should you budget for utilities every month if you plan to live in Utah? Here’s what the average monthly utility costs look like:

Groceries & Beverage Spending

Average Grocery & Beverage Costs in Utah: $321 per person, per month

How much you spend on food each month can vary depending on where you live. The Bureau of Economic Analysis found that Utah’s average annual (nonrestaurant) food cost per person is $3,862, which equates to about $321 a month.

The Council for Community and Economic Research, which ranks the food costs in American cities, ranked Utah major cities’ grocery costs for 2025:

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Utah: $9,963-$18,710 per year

From weekend ski trips to more mundane weekday commutes, transportation expenses add up. To get a clearer idea of how much you’d spend on transportation in Utah, take a look at the following annual estimates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, based on data from February 2026:

Recommended: 7 Ways to Save Money on Commuting to Work

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Utah: $7,233 per person, per year

The average annual per-capita cost of health care in Utah comes out to $7,233, according to estimates from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report.

What you’ll actually spend on health care will depend on your specific care needs and coverage.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Utah: $786-$1,381 per child, per month

Many parents struggle to make room for child care costs. Utah residents who need help covering the costs can look into state child care assistance programs.

To get a better understanding of how much you’d need to spend on child care in Utah, these are the average costs in that state, per data from CostofChildCare.org:

Taxes

Tax Rate in Utah: 4.50%

Utah residents pay a flat-rate state income tax of 4.50%, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2026.

That’s fairly low when you consider the fact that, not too far away, Californians are paying as much as 13.30% in a graduated-rate state income tax system, while Arizona to the south tops out at 2.50%. That said, if you change plans and move to nearby Nevada or Wyoming, you won’t pay any state income tax at all.

Miscellaneous Costs

After you pay all of your bills, it’s time to kick back and relax. What does it cost to pass the time in Utah? According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal expenditures come out to $30,305 per person, per year.

These fun outings may be where some of that money is going (costs are accurate as of June 2026):

•  A family-friendly educational day at the Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City: $0-$24.95, depending on age

•  More family fun at the Hogle Zoo, also in Salt Lake City: $0-$26.95, depending on age and season

•  Exploring Zion National Park: Entrance pass $20-$35 per vehicle for seven days, depending on the time of year

•  A 40-minute swim, soak, or snorkel, at the Homestead Crater, a geothermal spring hidden beneath a 55-foot tall limestone rock formation in Midway: $30 per guest (free for kids 2 and younger)

•  A “dirty Dr. Pepper” soda at Swigin St. George: $1.59

•  A pastrami burger at Crown Burger in Salt Lake City: $9.39

Recommended: The Average Monthly Expenses for One Person

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Utah?

How accessible a comfortable style of living feels to you will vary depending on your family’s needs and your chosen lifestyle, as well as where you live.

So, just how easy is it to live comfortably in Utah? Utah ranks 31st in the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, which means it’s one of the more expensive states in the country to live in. The rankings measure the average cost of living against the average amount of money most households in that state have.

As mentioned, MERIC gave Utah a similar ranking (30th) on its cost-of-living list.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in Utah?

To make it easier to have a lower-cost lifestyle in Utah, take a look at the three major cities with the lowest cost of living, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

Cedar City

With a cost-of-living index of 94.4, Cedar City is the most affordable major city in Utah, the council says. How many people call Cedar City home? About 42,000, according to the most recent census data. If you enjoy a low cost of living and a small-town feel, Cedar City may be the right fit for you.

Provo

If Cedar Valley is too small for you, try Provo (cost-of-living index of 97.4), which is home to over 114,500 people, according to census data, but home values in the Provo-Orem metro area are on the steep side. Luckily, there’s lots to do in Provo that doesn’t cost much, such as enjoying Utah’s largest freshwater lake on the west side of town or hiking and chasing waterfalls in the mountains on the east side of town.

Ogden

Ogden came in third place, with a cost-of-living ranking of 101.2. Ogden is just 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, so you can easily get away for a vacation or enjoy everything the local area has to offer. You’ll also be close to Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, where you can explore hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.

FAQ

Is it expensive to live in Utah?

The cost of living in Utah is considered relatively high. It ranks as the 30th lowest cost of living in the U.S. according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, meaning it is one of the more expensive states in the country.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Utah?

The cost of living comfortably depends on your location and lifestyle, and Utah is a relatively expensive state. The average person needs to earn about $24.71 per hour to cover basic needs, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator. Ultimately, your exact budget will depend on your personal spending for housing, driving, and health care.

What is the cheapest place to live in Utah?

According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, Cedar City is the most affordable major city in Utah with a cost-of-living index of 94.4. Other options include Provo and Ogden, though costs can vary based on local housing markets.