Is $60,000 a good salary in Utah?

$60,000 in Utah provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,951 after taxes. Across major Utah cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,508.

What is the cost of living on $60,000 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 $60,000 take-home pay of $3,951/month, you would have roughly $1,508/month remaining.

Living in Utah · 2026

Is $60,000 enough to live in Utah?

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

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,951

Avg monthly expenses

$2,443

Avg monthly surplus

$1,508

Savings potential

~38%

After-tax take-home in Utah

Gross salary$60,000

Federal income tax− $5,094

State income tax− $2,910

Social Security− $3,720

Medicare− $870

Annual take-home$47,406

Effective tax rate20.99%

How $60,000 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: $1,288/mo

Rent burden: 39.2% — 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: $1,457/mo

Rent burden: 36.7% — High (35–50%)

Full West Valley City analysis →

Provo

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,423/mo

Surplus: $1,528/mo

Rent burden: 35.4% — 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: $1,457/mo

Rent burden: 36.7% — High (35–50%)

Full West Jordan analysis →

Orem

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,423/mo

Surplus: $1,528/mo

Rent burden: 35.4% — High (35–50%)

Full Orem analysis →

Ogden

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $1,790/mo

Rent burden: 30.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Ogden analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,951 ($47,412/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,976

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,185

per month

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

Savings20%

$790

per month

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

Needs / year

$23,706

Wants / year

$14,224

Savings / year

$9,482

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Salt Lake City

Rent would consume 39% 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: 6/10 (Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $60,000 salary comfortably supports a good single lifestyle in Salt Lake City, Utah, with approximately $1,288/month (~33% 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 $60,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $50,847 in an average-cost US city, or $60,000 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$60,000 is 26% above the Utah individual median ($47,600) and 7% above the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$47,600

+26%

State household median

$86,833

-31%

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)

$60,000 vs. Utah income benchmarks

Individual median (Utah)

$47,600

+26% vs. this salary

Household median (Utah)

$86,833

-31% 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.