CICostIndexUSA

Modesto, CA vs St. George, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
More AffordableUT
St. George
97.3
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

St. George is moderately cheaper than Modesto — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Modesto, you would need $74,800 in St. George. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.6%
Modesto
108.5
St. George
98.1
🛒 Groceries8.4%
Modesto
105.2
St. George
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Modesto
105.3
St. George
103.9
🏥 Healthcare1.4%
Modesto
95.3
St. George
94
Utilities49.0%
Modesto
152.3
St. George
77.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Modesto to see what you'd need to earn in St. George to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. George, UT
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in St. George

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 104.1) = salary × 0.9347. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$470,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

St. George, UT

Median Home Price
$531,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
98.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.0×

Modesto has 9.6% lower housing costs compared to St. George.

Income & Job Market

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$78,700
Per Capita Income
$44,900
Unemployment Rate
8.3%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

St. George, UT

Median Household Income
$87,000
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
89,587
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismReal EstateRetailConstruction

Affordability at a Glance

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

Modesto, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

St. George, UT
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.