Cost of Living in Utah

While some areas in Utah have expensive rent and the rent is only increasing steadily over the years, there are also other areas where the rent is affordable.

The amount of rent you pay here among other things depends upon the area you choose to live in and your preferred living arrangement. 

Some of the areas where housing is cheaper in Utah are Price, Logan, Eagle Mountain, Vernal, and Cedar City. 

For instance, the average cost to build a house in Cedar City, Utah will be somewhere between $100 to $120 per square foot, whereas if you choose to rent a house in Cedar City, it can cost you around $700 per month.

The housing cost in Utah is around  $500,077. This figure has been researched and determined by the real-estate website Zillow. Hence, Utah can be considered one of the costlier cities in the country to own a house in.

The electricity bill is lowest in Utah with average monthly usage of 775 kWh and an average electric bill of $82.77.

According to the latest report by the US Energy Information Administration, the average cost of utility per month in Utah is $268 per month which has been bifurcated into different heads such as electricity cost $80, internet and cable cost $98, water cost $38 and gas $52.

While Utah has the cheapest electric bill in the country, the gas prices in the state are a bit on the steep side. According to the AAA gas price tracker, the national average of gas prices was $3.402 as compared to Utah’s average of $3.760. please note that the price of gas changes daily and the amount reflected is of date 21.02.2023.

According to the Economic policy institute, a family of four in Utah can spend an average of $9239 on food. This amount covers a healthy diet for two adults and two children but only includes grocery store purchases that are then prepared at home.

According to Numbeo, an online database about the world’s food prices, the average cost of a  loaf of  white bread in Salt lake city, which is one of the  finest and best places to live in Utah for families, is  $0.85

Buying an egg carton in Salt lake city, Utah  will cost you $0.89

a gallon of gas in Utah will cost $3.758 if you compare it to the national average of $3.397. the figure has been taken on the day of writing this article

As previously stated, there are three major reasons why fuel is more expensive in Utah.

For starters, many refineries on the West Coast have closed and are now switching to biofuel. This has increased the demand for Utah refineries, resulting in a price increase for their products.

Next, Utah’s population has increased in the last decade by 18.4%, which has eventually led to an increase of 22% in gasoline consumption. The population here is growing at the quickest rate in the country which consequently increases demand for fuel and gasoline.

The following factors contribute to Utah’s high diesel prices: lower imports from Russia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, seasonal demand, lower production capacity, and a higher tax rate on diesel products when compared to other states.

It’s free to attend public schools in the state. And the schools here are operated on the open-enrollment system which means you can send your kids to any public school, irrespective of where the school is situated or where you live

Utah tech university is the cheapest university in Utah with the total cost in-state being $12630 and the total out-of-state being $23228.

The cost of attendance at the University of Utah which includes components such as books and supplies, room, tuition and fees, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses totals $27386 for residents and $49034 for non-residents living on campus. For students living off campus, the cost is $29942 for residents and $51590 for non-residents.

tuition cost at the University of Utah is $9002 for residents and $30488 for non-residents.

Yes, Utah is a tax-friendly state. The income tax rate as well as the sales tax rate here is considerably low. 

Grocery food sold in Utah is taxed at 3% across the state.

If you are earning 70k, you’d have to pay $16918 tax annually, and your earnings after tax would be $53082

If you are earning 100k in Utah, you’d have to pay $27268 tax annually, and your earnings after tax would be $72732

According to the 2020 report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures, the average cost of healthcare in Utah is $5055.

Urgent care costs in Utah without insurance can range from $200 to $1000 on average. Broadly speaking, the cost of urgent care in Utah will differ greatly according to the type of care and services provided to you.

ER, a visit in Utah for people without health insurance can cost $1464 on average. However, this amount can vary as it depends upon the services and treatments required by you and the medications prescribed. 

No, currently public transport is not free in Utah but reduced rates are available for students and senior citizens.

No, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) buses are not free in Utah but discounts are provided to senior citizens and students

Owning a car in Utah is a necessity. Apart from the buying price, we also need to consider its maintenance cost, insurance cost, how much will my car registration cost in Utah, and so on.

So can you get around Utah without a car? Yes, you can easily. There are several forms of public transportation available in the state that can be used to travel to and from many major cities.

For example, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) operates buses and light rail trains in the Salt Lake Valley, connecting cities such as Salt Lake City, Sandy, and Provo. Also, there are popular ride-sharing options that you can use such as Lyft and Uber.

Owning a car in Utah is a necessity. Apart from the buying price, we also need to consider its maintenance cost, insurance cost, how much will my car registration cost in Utah, and so on.

The most affordable city to live in Utah is Vernal. You can also consider Hyrum, Washington Terrace, Brigham City, and Sunset.

Yes. It is cheaper to live in Utah or Arizona. Both places are affordable depending on the area you want to live and your current lifestyle.

Yes, Utah is cheaper than California as the cost of living in Utah is 32.3% less than California.