State overview · UT
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Utah? Real data for 1 city, updated June 2026.
| City | Salary needed | Housing / mo | Median salary | Salary gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $108,420 | $1,747 | $55,240 | $53,180 |
Cost of Living in Utah
Salt Lake City requires a household income of $108,488 per year to cover basic expenses comfortably, which runs about $10,830 above the national median of $97,658. That gap matters because the median local salary sits at just $51,430, leaving a shortfall of $57,058 between what residents typically earn and what the city actually costs. Someone earning the local median would need to nearly double their income to close that difference. These figures reflect Salt Lake City alone and should not be read as a statewide portrait of Utah's affordability.
CityWage currently tracks one city in Utah: Salt Lake City. The table below breaks down its full cost profile, with housing running $1,747 per month.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cost of living in Salt Lake City, UT?
You need about $108,420 per year to live comfortably in Salt Lake City, based on the 50/30/20 budget rule applied to BLS and HUD data.
Does the median salary in Salt Lake City cover the cost of living?
Not on its own. The median local salary of $55,240 falls about $53,180 short of the $108,420 needed to live comfortably.
Is Salt Lake City above or below the national average?
Salt Lake City runs above the national median. It needs $108,420 per year versus the national figure of $97,559.