CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Provo, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
UT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Cary and Provo have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+0.6%
Cary
103.5
Provo
104.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cary
96.6
Provo
96.4
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Cary
103.1
Provo
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Cary
93.3
Provo
94
Utilities11.7%
Cary
89
Provo
78.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cary to see what you'd need to earn in Provo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Provo, UT
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$534,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.4×

Provo has 0.6% higher housing costs compared to Cary.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$100,800
Per Capita Income
$57,500
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Provo, UT
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.