Median rent is 18% lower in Salt Lake City ($1,414/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Salt Lake City, where the median home runs $539,500 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $75,090 a year). Taken together, Salt Lake City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 97.1 against 98.3 — about 1% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Austin, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Salt Lake City is 1% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 97.1 in Salt Lake City vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Salt Lake City, UT
How much would you need to earn in Salt Lake City, UT to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Salt Lake City, UT
$74,137
You could earn $863 less (1% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Salt Lake City
Utah
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Salt Lake City at $1,414/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (18% gap). Median home values are within 3% of each other: $555,300 in Austin and $539,500 in Salt Lake City.
Metric
Austin
Salt Lake City
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Salt Lake City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Salt Lake City has cleaner air on average: 41.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Salt Lake City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,414/mo median).
Pick Salt Lake City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 41.0).
Salt Lake City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 97.1 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 1% lower in Salt Lake City.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,414/mo in Salt Lake City, UT. Salt Lake City, UT has the lower rent by about 18%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $75,090 in Salt Lake City, UT. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Salt Lake City, UT has better air quality on average: 41.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $98,849 in Salt Lake City, UT (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
