CostIndexUSA

Provo, UT vs Riverside, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableUT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Provo is moderately cheaper than Riverside — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Provo, you would need $86,700 in Riverside. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+24.2%
Provo
104.1
Riverside
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.2%
Provo
96.4
Riverside
101.4
🚗 Transportation+2.3%
Provo
103.9
Riverside
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Provo
94
Riverside
96.2
Utilities+89.1%
Provo
78.6
Riverside
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Provo to see what you'd need to earn in Riverside to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Riverside, CA
$86,700
$6,700 more needed in Riverside

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0835. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$534,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.4×

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Riverside has 24.2% higher housing costs compared to Provo.

Income & Job Market

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$100,800
Per Capita Income
$57,500
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Provo, UT
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.