CostIndexUSA

Los Angeles, CA vs Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableUT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Salt Lake City is moderately cheaper than Los Angeles — 11.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Los Angeles, you would need $71,100 in Salt Lake City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.6%
Los Angeles
170.4
Salt Lake City
123.3
🛒 Groceries9.6%
Los Angeles
106.6
Salt Lake City
96.4
🚗 Transportation5.2%
Los Angeles
109.6
Salt Lake City
103.9
🏥 Healthcare5.1%
Los Angeles
99.1
Salt Lake City
94
Utilities50.2%
Los Angeles
158.6
Salt Lake City
79

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Los Angeles 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
$71,100
$8,900 less needed in Salt Lake City

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8882. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Salt Lake City, UT

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

Los Angeles has 27.6% lower housing costs compared to Salt Lake City.

Income & Job Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

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).

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% 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.