Is $50,000 a good salary in Utah?

$50,000 in Utah provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,321 after taxes. Across major Utah cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $878.

What is the cost of living on $50,000 in Utah?

The average monthly living cost across major Utah cities is approximately $2,443 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $50,000 take-home pay of $3,321/month, you would have roughly $878/month remaining.

Living in Utah · 2026

Is $50,000 enough to live in Utah?

Single adult · UT · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,321

Avg monthly expenses

$2,443

Avg monthly surplus

$878

Savings potential

~26%

After-tax take-home in Utah

Gross salary$50,000

Federal income tax− $3,894

State income tax− $2,425

Social Security− $3,100

Medicare− $725

Annual take-home$39,856

Effective tax rate20.29%

How $50,000 feels in Utah cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Salt Lake City

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,663/mo

Surplus: $658/mo

Rent burden: 46.7% — High (35–50%)

Full Salt Lake City analysis →

West Valley City

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$449

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,494/mo

Surplus: $827/mo

Rent burden: 43.7% — High (35–50%)

Full West Valley City analysis →

Provo

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,423/mo

Surplus: $898/mo

Rent burden: 42.2% — High (35–50%)

Full Provo analysis →

West Jordan

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$449

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,494/mo

Surplus: $827/mo

Rent burden: 43.7% — High (35–50%)

Full West Jordan analysis →

Orem

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,423/mo

Surplus: $898/mo

Rent burden: 42.2% — High (35–50%)

Full Orem analysis →

Ogden

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $1,160/mo

Rent burden: 36.1% — High (35–50%)

Full Ogden analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,321 ($39,852/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,661

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$996

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$664

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$19,926

Wants / year

$11,956

Savings / year

$7,970

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Salt Lake City

Rent would consume 47% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.5/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $50,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Salt Lake City, Utah, with approximately $658/month (~20% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Salt Lake City's above-average cost of living (index: 1.18) means $50,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $42,373 in an average-cost US city, or $50,000 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$50,000 is slightly above the Utah individual median of $47,600 (+5%). The state household median is $86,833.

State individual median

$47,600

+5%

State household median

$86,833

-42%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$50,000 vs. Utah income benchmarks

Individual median (Utah)

$47,600

+5% vs. this salary

Household median (Utah)

$86,833

-42% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Utah

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.