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Salt Lake City, UT Relocation Guide (2026)

Cost of living, housing, and income data for Salt Lake City, sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Salary needed to live in Salt Lake City →

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.

Salt Lake City, Utah has a population of about 201,269. Typical household income is $72,357 per year, roughly in line with the median across the cities in our dataset (+0%).

Salt Lake City's housing market shows a median home value of $458,600, above the multi-city benchmark (+40%), alongside median rent of $1,254 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.

Home prices in Salt Lake City run about 6.3× median household income — a stretched ratio that puts real pressure on affordability for local buyers. Year-over-year, home values around Salt Lake City are up 2.59%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. FEMA classifies Salt Lake City's hazard risk as Relatively High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.

Personal Affordability Check

Cost of housing in Salt Lake City

Median home value is $458,600 and median gross rent is $1,254/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.

FHFA's county-level home price index for Salt Lake rose 2.59% over the past year (as of 2025).

HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,747/month.

Climate & home insurance

FEMA rates Salt Lake City's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.

Safety

Salt Lake City reported a violent crime rate of 863.2 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.

Moving to Salt Lake City

Planning a move to Salt Lake City? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.

Cost estimates for moving between Salt Lake City and nearby popular destinations:

• Moving from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles
• Moving from Salt Lake City to San Francisco
• Moving from Salt Lake City to San Jose
• Moving from Salt Lake City to San Diego
• Moving from Salt Lake City to Denver
• Moving from Salt Lake City to Seattle
• Moving from Salt Lake City to Phoenix
• Moving from Salt Lake City to Portland
• Moving from Salt Lake City to Austin

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of living in Salt Lake City, UT?

In Salt Lake City, the median home value is $458,600 and median rent is $1,254 per month, against a median household income of $72,357. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Salt Lake City?

Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Salt Lake City's median rent of $1,254/month takes an income of roughly $50,160 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Salt Lake City.

Is it better to rent or buy in Salt Lake City?

In Salt Lake City, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,254/month) takes about $50,160 in annual income, while buying the median home ($458,600) takes roughly $104,925 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).

Is Salt Lake City safe?

Salt Lake City's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 863.2 per 100,000 residents.

See the full salary breakdown for Salt Lake City →

Compare Salt Lake City to similar cities

• Los Angeles vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• San Francisco vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• San Jose vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• San Diego vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Denver vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
• Salt Lake City vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Cities with a similar cost of living

Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Salt Lake City's.