Median rent is 24% lower in Salt Lake City ($1,343/mo vs $1,770/mo). Buying is cheaper in Salt Lake City, where the median home runs $495,700 versus $586,700. Households earn more in Denver ($91,681 vs $74,925 a year).
City A
Denver, CO
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 Denver, CO?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Denver
Colorado
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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Salt Lake City — median rent of $1,343/mo versus $1,770/mo in Denver, a 24% difference. Median home values are within 16% of each other: $586,700 in Denver and $495,700 in Salt Lake City.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Colorado's top income tax rate is 4.40% versus 4.65% in Utah, so Denver is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 2.90% in Colorado and 4.85% in Utah; Denver has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Denver
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 2.90%
Salt Lake City
Income tax: 4.65%
Sales tax: 4.85%
Salt Lake City has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 33.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Denver if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,681/yr).
Pick Salt Lake City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,343/mo median).
Pick Denver if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.40%).
Is Denver cheaper than Salt Lake City?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Denver vs Salt Lake City?
Median rent is $1,770/mo in Denver, CO and $1,343/mo in Salt Lake City, UT. Salt Lake City, UT has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Denver or Salt Lake City?
Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT. Denver, CO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Salt Lake City, UT has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 33.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Denver or Salt Lake City?
Colorado's top income tax rate is 4.40% and Utah's is 4.65%. Denver, CO has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Salt Lake City to match my Denver income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology