CICostIndexUSA

Provo, UT vs San Jose, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableUT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
CA
San Jose
110.4
overall index
$3,775/mo rent

Provo is moderately cheaper than San Jose — 12.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Provo, you would need $89,900 in San Jose. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+103.6%
Provo
104.1
San Jose
211.9
🛒 Groceries+9.1%
Provo
96.4
San Jose
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Provo
103.9
San Jose
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Provo
94
San Jose
95.3
Utilities+99.4%
Provo
78.6
San Jose
156.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Jose, CA
$89,900
$9,900 more needed in San Jose

Formula: salary × (110.4 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.1242. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$545,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.9×

San Jose, CA

Median Home Price
$1,559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,775
Housing Index
211.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
34.4×

San Jose has 103.6% higher housing costs compared to Provo.

Income & Job Market

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$101,000
Per Capita Income
$57,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

San Jose, CA

Median Household Income
$164,800
Per Capita Income
$93,900
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
1,013,240
Top Industries
TechnologySemiconductorsSoftwareHealthcareFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Provo, UT
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

San Jose, CA
3.6×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.