CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
UT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Charlotte is slightly cheaper than Salt Lake City — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $83,000 in Salt Lake City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+26.3%
Charlotte
97.6
Salt Lake City
123.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charlotte
96.6
Salt Lake City
96.4
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Charlotte
103.1
Salt Lake City
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Charlotte
93.3
Salt Lake City
94
Utilities11.4%
Charlotte
89.2
Salt Lake City
79

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charlotte to see what you'd need to earn in Salt Lake City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Salt Lake City, UT
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Salt Lake City

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 1.0370. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Home Price
$554,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
123.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.3×

Salt Lake City has 26.3% higher housing costs compared to Charlotte.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Household Income
$94,400
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
200,567
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceTourismGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Salt Lake City, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.