State relocation profile · Federal data
Utah
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Utah from federal sources.
- 98.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,313
- 2BR rent / mo
- $68,194
- Median salary
- 52.6
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Utah ranks #21 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (52.6/100, D), with its strongest marks in schools and safety.
- #21 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 52.6
- Life Score · D
- 98.9
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $68,194
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: childcare (34/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Utah ranks #21 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 98.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,313/mo, median salary $68,194; Life Score 52.6/100 (D), strongest in schools and safety.
Signature: Utah lists 5 MSAs; statewide figures still mask metro-to-metro swings.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 98.9 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,313/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $68,194.
Composite Life Score 52.6/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#21 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (5 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet UT · Utah 52.6/100 · D · #21 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-PAR · LEAD-SCHOOLS · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-MID #21/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-PAR RPP 98.9
- LEAD-SCHOOLS Lead · schools
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Vermont (+ 0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Utah
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Utah on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Utah childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Utah (infant $11,828/yr leads the book).
Utah Life Score breakdown
Utah composites to 52.6/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #21 of 51.
Utah - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
100 /100
- Safety
Safety
68 /100
- Environment
Environment
52 /100
- Wages
Wages
46 /100
- Rent
Rent
44 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
40 /100
- Childcare 34
Childcare
34 /100
What this shows Utah's strongest dimensions are schools and safety; its weakest among scored dims is childcare at 34/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Utah on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Utah on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Utah
Explore detailed relocation data for 5 metropolitan areas in Utah. Utah contains 5 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Logan, Ogden, Provo-Orem-Lehi and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Logan metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Utah cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Utah wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.