Utah
UTWest · 6 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Utah is close to the national average. Across the 6 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 103 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,885 a month, 2% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$4.31
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,885
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
103
vs. 100 national avg
Utah Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest cost pressure in Utah is gas, at 8% above the national average. The biggest break is electricity, at 28% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 2.4% over the past year across the 6 cities we track, slower than the 2.7% national change. Heber saw the biggest move (up 7.3%), while Salt Lake City was up just 0.7%.
City to city
Where you live inside Utah matters. Typical rent runs from $1,435 in Logan to $2,978 in Heber, a gap of $1,543 a month or about $18,516 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 38% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 12th lowest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $94,320 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $4.31 a gallon, 8% above the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $120 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $1,980 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the West rose 2.4% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Utah
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 29 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Summit County | $137,058 |
| 2Morgan County | $126,092 |
| 3Wasatch County | $115,146 |
| 4Davis County | $108,058 |
| 5Tooele County | $101,846 |
| 6Utah County | $96,877 |
| 7Salt Lake County | $94,658 |
| 8Juab County | $89,803 |
| 9Weber County | $87,083 |
| 10Beaver County | $85,603 |
| 11Cache County | $78,292 |
| 12Box Elder County | $77,865 |
| 13Rich County | $76,875 |
| 14Washington County | $76,411 |
| 15Kane County | $75,000 |
| 16Duchesne County | $74,738 |
| 17Sevier County | $73,765 |
| 18Millard County | $70,877 |
| 19Wayne County | $70,074 |
| 20Emery County | $69,956 |
| 21Uintah County | $69,861 |
| 22Sanpete County | $67,459 |
| 23Iron County | $65,527 |
| 24Grand County | $62,521 |
| 25Garfield County | $61,688 |
| 26Daggett County | $58,750 |
| 27San Juan County | $54,890 |
| 28Carbon County | $53,673 |
| 29Piute County | $44,650 |
Utah Cost of Living FAQ
Is Utah expensive to live in?
Utah is close to the national average. Across the 6 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 103, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Utah?
Typical rent in Utah averages $1,885 a month across the 6 cities we track as of September 2026, 2% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks the 13th highest of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Utah?
Of the 6 cities we track in Utah, Provo has the lowest cost of living index at 96. The lowest typical rent is in Logan, at $1,435 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Utah?
Salt Lake City has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Utah, at 108. The highest typical rent is in Heber, at $2,978 a month.
How much is gas in Utah?
Regular unleaded averages $4.31 a gallon in Utah as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 8% above the national average of $3.98. That is the 9th most expensive of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Utah?
Rent in Utah rose an average of 2.4% over the past year across the 6 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Utah?
Residential electricity in Utah averages 13.3 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $120.
How much is car insurance in Utah?
Full coverage car insurance in Utah averages $1,980 a year, or about $165 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is near the middle of 51 states.