CICostIndexUSA

Salem, OR vs St. George, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
More AffordableUT
St. George
97.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

St. George is moderately cheaper than Salem — 6.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salem, you would need $75,100 in St. George. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.1%
Salem
110.3
St. George
98.1
🛒 Groceries8.5%
Salem
105.3
St. George
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Salem
105.3
St. George
103.9
🏥 Healthcare1.4%
Salem
95.3
St. George
94
Utilities25.8%
Salem
104.7
St. George
77.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. George, UT
$75,100
$4,900 less needed in St. George

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9392. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

St. George, UT

Median Home Price
$529,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
98.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.5×

Salem has 11.1% lower housing costs compared to St. George.

Income & Job Market

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$82,700
Per Capita Income
$47,100
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Salem, OR
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

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

74% 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.