Cost of Living in Salt Lake City, UT
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in Salt Lake City? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $10,496 per year — combining federal taxes with Utah's state income tax. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,747/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the Salt Lake City metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $38,540, or roughly $3,212 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The Salt Lake City metro has a cost of living index of 118.5 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 18% above average, Salt Lake City is a noticeably expensive metro — groceries, services, and everyday purchases cost more than in most of the country.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in Salt Lake City represents approximately 30% of gross income. That exceeds the conventional 30% guideline, meaning housing takes a significant share of the budget at this income level.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 18% more expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
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Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Nails & Hair Beauty School | 104 | $0 | 98.0% |
| Medspa Academies | 263 | $0 | 96.0% |
| Skin Science Institute | 174 | $0 | 87.0% |
| Healing Mountain Massage School | 39 | $0 | 82.0% |
| Cameo College of Essential Beauty | 277 | $0 | 81.0% |
| Skinworks School of Advanced Skincare | 116 | $0 | 74.0% |
| Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-West Jordan | 165 | $0 | 72.0% |
| Tooele Technical College | 691 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Collectiv Academy | 81 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Westminster University | 1,214 | $40,896 | 69.0% |
| American Beauty Academy-West Valley Campus | 26 | $0 | 67.0% |
| University of Utah | 35,260 | $8,175 | 64.0% |
| The Barber School | 145 | $0 | 64.0% |
| Myotherapy Massage College | 61 | $0 | 64.0% |
| Neumont College of Computer Science | 530 | $25,500 | 57.0% |
| Eagle Gate College-Murray | 313 | $16,491 | 53.0% |
| Western Governors University | 185,015 | $7,710 | 51.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Salt Lake City | 289 | $0 | 50.0% |
| Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences | 1,937 | $17,609 | 47.0% |
| Nightingale College | 4,265 | $0 | 45.0% |
| Fortis College-Salt Lake City | 371 | $12,928 | 42.0% |
| Ensign College | 5,973 | $3,888 | 31.0% |
| Salt Lake Community College | 26,764 | $3,778 | 30.0% |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Salt Lake City | 323 | $21,306 | — |
| Midwives College of Utah | 258 | $7,760 | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Salt Lake City | 63 | $15,660 | — |