Moving from Provo to Salt Lake City
Your paycheck buys slightly less in Salt Lake City than in Provo (-2.7%); you'd need about $103,100 to break even. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Salt Lake City: $103,100
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $103,100 in Salt Lake City, UT to match $100,000 in Provo, UT ($3,100 more), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in Utah, so state income tax is the same; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Provo vs Salt Lake City: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,611 → $1,659/mo
- Median home value
- $584,600 → $575,200
- Median household income
- $101,014 → $100,548
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 98.2 → 100.9
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (93.9 → 95.7 of 100)
Provo vs Salt Lake City cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Provo, UT | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 98.2 | 100.9 |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $1,659 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $64,440 | $66,360 |
| Median home value | $584,600 | $575,200 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $3,400 | $3,383 |
| Income needed to buy | $145,716 | $145,001 |
| Median property tax | $2,532 | $2,929 |
| State income tax on $100,000 | $4,450 | $4,450 |
| Metro population | 760,154 | 1,300,762 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Provo vs Salt Lake City
On a $100,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $56,974 a year in Provo and $57,550 in Salt Lake City if you rent: $576 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $78,443 and $78,242 ($201 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | ProvoBefore | Salt Lake CityAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $100,000, single filer | $25,270 | $25,270 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,135 | $1,135 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,169 | $1,169 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,388 | $2,388 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,680 | $7,680 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $19,332 | $19,908 | +$576 |
| Total if you rent | $56,974 | $57,550 | +$576 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $37,150 | $36,552 | -$598 |
| Property tax median home | $2,532 | $2,929 | +$397 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,119 | $1,119 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $78,443 | $78,242 | -$201 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $14,160 a year in Provo and $14,160 in Salt Lake City (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Provo to Salt Lake City
About 4,860 households (8,253 people) moved from the Provo metro area to the Salt Lake City metro area in 2022–2023, making Salt Lake City the #1 destination for people leaving Provo among the 149 metro areas we cover. 5,957 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $72,056.
Cost to move from Provo to Salt Lake City
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 50 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Provo vs Salt Lake City
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Provo area among the highest (score 93.9) and the Salt Lake City area among the highest (score 95.7), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $442 vs $515 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Salt Lake City cheaper than Provo?
Overall prices in the Salt Lake City area are 2.7% higher than in Provo (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,659 vs $1,611 a month, and the median home is $575,200 vs $584,600.
What salary do I need in Salt Lake City to match $100,000 in Provo?
About $103,100, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in Utah, so state income tax is the same.
How much does it cost to move from Provo to Salt Lake City?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 50 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Provo to Salt Lake City?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 4,860 households (8,253 people) moved from the Provo metro area to the Salt Lake City metro area, and 5,957 moved the other way.