City Profile

Salt Lake City, Utah

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

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Overall Score

Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City, Utah, serves as the vibrant capital and most populous city of the state. Founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers, the city's unique history is deeply intertwined with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which continues to influence its culture and community. Today, Salt Lake City is a diverse and growing metropolitan area, attracting new residents with its robust economy, stunning natural beauty, and a high quality of life.

The city is renowned for its exceptional access to outdoor recreation, with world-class ski resorts, hiking, and biking trails just a short drive away. Beyond its natural allure, Salt Lake City boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, a burgeoning culinary landscape, and a lively downtown. Its strategic location and strong economic growth make it an appealing destination for individuals and families seeking a dynamic urban experience with unparalleled access to nature.

About Utah

Utah is characterized by its stunning and varied natural landscapes, ranging from arid deserts to alpine mountains, fostering a strong outdoor recreation culture and a family-friendly atmosphere. The state boasts a diversified and robust economy, with major industries including technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, tourism, mining, and agriculture. While the cost of living has been rising, particularly for housing, Utah generally experiences a dry, semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons, offering abundant sunshine.

222,706

Population

$63K

Avg Salary

105

Cost Index

58.7

Quality Score

How this 59/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 105.0	37.5	25%	9.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $75,090 Income needed to live here: $65,000 Unemployment rate: 3.4%	63.5	20%	12.7
Growth	Population growth rate: 1.96% Job growth rate: 1.3%	60.0	15%	9.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 72 / 100	72.0	10%	7.2
Overall score				58.7

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 2 (reasoned), q=90 ✓ perfect), last refreshed 25 September 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Salt Lake City is generally higher than the national average, sitting approximately 5% above it as of August 2026. This is primarily driven by housing expenses, which are about 20% more expensive than the U.S. average. While housing costs can be a significant factor, other essential expenses like groceries are slightly cheaper, around 2% less than the national average.

Utilities in Salt Lake City are notably more affordable, approximately 16% lower than the national average, which helps offset some of the higher housing costs. Transportation expenses, including gas prices and public transit fares, are about 6% higher than the national average. Overall, while Salt Lake City presents a higher cost of living compared to many U.S. cities, its economic opportunities and lifestyle benefits often balance these expenses for residents.

Average Rent

$1,606/mo

Groceries

$450/mo

Transport

$376/mo

Utilities

$315/mo

Healthcare

$135/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$50.00

Cinema ticket

$15.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$450.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$129.00

Income

Salary Insights

Salt Lake City's job market is robust and diverse, with a strong emphasis on technology, healthcare, and professional services. The state of Utah, with Salt Lake City as its economic engine, saw a job growth rate of 1.3% over 2025. The Salt Lake City-Murray metropolitan area reported an average hourly wage of $34.45 in May 2025, translating to an annual salary of approximately $71,656. The average annual salary in Salt Lake City was $62,823 as of September 2026.

Key industries driving the economy include professional and business services, education and health services, and financial activities, all of which experienced significant job gains in late 2025 and early 2026. The region is also experiencing a data-center boom, with projections for substantial growth by 2030, further boosting tech employment. Salt Lake City fosters an entrepreneurial climate, with programs supporting small businesses and innovation in high-impact, tech-driven industries like AI and medtech.

The average salary in Salt Lake City is $62,823 per year. You would need approximately $65,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Construction +2.90% Technology +3.40% Education and Health Services +7.40% Financial Activities +2.90% Professional and Business Services +5.40%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

56°F

Avg Temp

☀️

91°F

Summer High

❄️

27°F

Winter Low

🌧️

25.30"

Annual Rain

💧

55.00%

Humidity

🌤️

295

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Salt Lake City primarily relies on personal vehicles, though public transportation options are available. The city's traffic congestion level was 21.8% in 2025, indicating moderate traffic. The average commute time is estimated to be around 25 minutes. While public transportation is present, it is often cited as limited, contributing to a medium car dependency for many residents.

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) operates a network of buses, TRAX light rail, and FrontRunner commuter rail, connecting downtown with various neighborhoods and surrounding communities. However, walkability scores are moderate, suggesting that while some areas are pedestrian-friendly, a car is often necessary for broader access across the metropolitan area.

25 min

Avg Commute

45.00/10

Transit Score

55.00/10

Walkability

Medium

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Exceptional access to outdoor recreation, including world-class skiing and hiking, is available within a short drive.

The job market is thriving, particularly in tech, healthcare, and professional services, with a 1.3% job growth rate in 2025.

Salt Lake City boasts a vibrant cultural scene, including a lively downtown, diverse dining, and arts.

Utilities costs are approximately 16% lower than the national average, helping to offset other expenses.

The city has a relatively young median age of 32.9 years, contributing to a dynamic and active community.

Drawbacks

The cost of living is higher than the national average, primarily driven by housing expenses which are 20% more expensive.

Salt Lake City experiences periods of poor air quality, especially during winter inversions.

Traffic congestion is a notable issue, and public transportation options are considered limited, leading to medium car dependency.

The median household income, while competitive, is lower than the state average.

The city's rapid growth has led to increased demand for housing and infrastructure, contributing to affordability challenges.

Head to Head

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Community Q&A

Questions about Salt Lake City

What people ask about living in and moving to Salt Lake City, Utah.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.