Median rent is 17% lower in Provo ($1,193/mo vs $1,438/mo). Buying is cheaper in Provo, where the median home runs $467,200 versus $472,300. Households earn more in Orem ($83,342 vs $64,171 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (88.6).
City A
Orem, UT
City B
Provo, UT
How much would you need to earn in Provo, UT to maintain your standard of living from Orem, UT?
Equivalent salary in Provo, UT
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
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
Orem
Utah
Provo
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 Provo at $1,193/mo compared to $1,438/mo in Orem (17% gap). Median home values are within 1% of each other: $472,300 in Orem and $467,200 in Provo.
Metric
Orem
Provo
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.
Orem
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Provo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Pick Orem if you prioritize higher median household income ($83,342/yr).
Pick Provo if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,193/mo median).
Orem is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 88.6 versus 88.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Orem.
Median rent is $1,438/mo in Orem, UT and $1,193/mo in Provo, UT. Provo, UT has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $83,342 in Orem, UT and $64,171 in Provo, UT. Orem, UT has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Orem, UT is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Provo, 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
