Ranking third in the United States for overall quality of life, Utah offers lower crime, a lower cost of living, and a picturesque landscape for dreamers of a western experience.
With many states becoming overbearingly expensive, it may be worth considering a move to The Beehive State. After all, the cost of living is 4.7% lower than the national average.
We recently published a blog titled “Top 5 Most Affordable Places to Live in Colorado Compared to Denver” to give a better look at cheaper places around the state. However, Utah might be a better fit if Colorado doesn’t match your lifestyle.
Compare These Locations
For reference, our 2022 home value data was pulled from Zillow.com. For more pricing around Utah, check out their site.
Central City Salt Lake City
- Median home value: $424,298
- Median cost to rent a studio apartment: $1,144
- Monthly cost of living for one person: $3,111
- Monthly cost of living for two adults and two children (family of four): $7,213
- Entire Salt Lake City Population: 199,723
Central City is one of the hottest places to live in Utah for young professionals. It offers easy access to artsy restaurants, indie music venues, and a growing job market. For someone in their 20s-30s, this neighborhood in Salt Lake City is a great way to grow your career and have fun.
According to the Wall Street Journal, no metropolitan area in the country expanded the size of its labor force more on a percentage basis during the pandemic than Salt Lake City. The state's capital ranks among the nation’s best locations for job seekers.
With a significant acceleration in job growth, companies like Adobe Systems and Microsoft are just a couple of the big names that have made an impact in the area.
Ogden
- Median home value: $381,372
- Median cost to rent a studio apartment: $1,023
- Monthly cost of living for one person: $3,024
- Monthly cost of living for two adults and two children (family of four): $6,902
- Population: 87,321
Ogden City is perched against the mountains of Weber County. It was dubbed “Best Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes in 2019. However, the early years for Ogden were not so smooth.
During the mid-1800s, the area known as Fort Buenaventura would eventually transform into Ogden. It was a hotspot for the industrial railroad and the city became known for having a transient nature from the railroad workers. Shootouts, burglaries, and other crimes were once very common in the early days.
Despite its rough upbringing, Ogden made a turnaround and now attracts visitors worldwide for its easy access to incredible downhill skiing, peaceful living, and beautiful downtown. Some of the city's biggest attractions include Snowbasin Resort, Powder Mountain, and Historic 25th Street. Also, with plenty of lodging, Ogden claims to welcome more than a million visitors annually. Just 38 miles north of Salt Lake City, residents of Ogden enjoy a very high quality of life without the expenses of living in a scenic mountain town.
St. George
- Median home value: $546,677
- Median cost to rent a studio apartment: $1,110
- Monthly cost of living for one person: $3,241
- Monthly cost of living for two adults and two children (family of four): $7,035
- Population: 99,342
St. George sits along the Arizona border in the Mojave Desert. It is located 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas and 300 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Like northern Arizona, the landscape is reminiscent of a spaghetti western film, with glowing red rocks and sorbet-colored sunsets.
Economically, St. George ranked as the fastest-growing metro area in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the U.S. Census. The report showed the local population growing by nearly 10,000 between July 1, 2020, and July 2021. That’s around a 5.1% increase, as reported by Spectrum Newspaper. Tourism drives the economy, but Dixie Regional Medical Center is one of the city’s largest employers.
St. George is isolated from modern luxuries, but with easy access to the St. George Regional Airport, flying to a larger city is simple if you need to hit Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Denver. However, with Zion National Park in its backyard, most people don’t go to St. George for a big-city experience. This makes the location an excellent home for digital nomads and retirees.
Compared to a state like California, Utah reports low income and property taxes, which is why the cost of housing may entice an outdoor enthusiast from out of state to buy a home next to Zion.
Provo
- Median home value: $496,049
- Median cost to rent a studio apartment: $750
- Monthly cost of living for one person: $3,157
- Monthly cost of living for two adults and two children (family of four): $6,698
- Population: 115,162
Providing easy access to hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, and other outdoor activities, Provo offers a robust slice of life for both families and its vast student population.
It is mostly known for being home to Brigham Young University, but the city also has many other institutions. They include Provo College, Noorda College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Mountainland Technical College, and Utah Valley University.
With such a diverse palette to choose from in higher education, Provo has become one of the most potent economies in the United States. It has even gone as far as to rank number one for best financial performance among large cities for the second consecutive year, according to the 2022 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index. In doing so, the city has established itself as a hub for technology startups, creating the highest levels of employment, growth, and wage growth over the last five years.
Located 45 miles south of Salt Lake City, Provo resides in Utah County, showcasing some of the state’s most scenic views for its residents.
Bluff
- Median home value: $307,999
- No apartments listed on Zillow
- Monthly cost of living for one person: $3,249
- Monthly cost of living for two adults and two children (family of four): $6,813
- Population: 14,518
Bluff is a small town tucked between sandstone bluffs and long-winding river valleys. It serves as a gateway to the beauties of the natural world. It’s 334 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and 48 miles northwest of Four Corners National Monument in San Juan County.
Although isolated, the town attracts people wanting a calmer pace of life with easy access to rafting, rock climbing, and plenty of unique monuments stretching miles into the rocky desert. Some natural attractions include Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park, Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Bears Ears National Monument.
It may be obvious, but San Juan County is in the middle of nowhere. So, if you work from home and would love to own an affordable house in a peaceful, scenic location, this is the place for you. Don’t believe us? Feel free to call our “Bluff.”
Prioritize The Necessities
We know you are excited to get out and explore, but first, make sure your home makes sense for you. For example, if you are moving from New York, consider how paying fewer taxes in Utah will impact your quality of life and vice-versa.
If you’re considering a move to Utah and want to ensure your move is pain free, allow Bailey’s Moving & Storage to be your moving experts. We’ve been the Rocky Mountain Region’s preferred full-service movers for over 70 years. So, whether you need to move down the road or across the country, we can handle the load. For a free online quote, feel free to visit our website. Or you can give us a call at (888) 260-5717.
The Comparison Criteria and Corresponding Sources Include:
- Median home and apartment costs: Zillow.com, December 2022
- Cost of living: Economic Policy Institute, 2020
- Population: US Census Bureau, April 2020/2021
