CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableUT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Salt Lake City is slightly cheaper than Denver — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $76,300 in Salt Lake City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.1%
Denver
146.9
Salt Lake City
123.3
🛒 Groceries4.6%
Denver
101
Salt Lake City
96.4
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Denver
104.4
Salt Lake City
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Denver
94.5
Salt Lake City
94
Utilities10.1%
Denver
87.9
Salt Lake City
79

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Salt Lake City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Salt Lake City, UT
$76,300
$3,700 less needed in Salt Lake City

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9537. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Home Price
$554,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
123.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.3×

Denver has 16.1% lower housing costs compared to Salt Lake City.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Household Income
$94,400
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
200,567
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceTourismGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Salt Lake City, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.