Salt Lake City vs St. Louis

Cost of living and salary reality, side by side. At $60-80k, $70,000 in Salt Lake City feels like approximately $47,960 in St. Louis.

Data: 2026-Q2 · BLS · HUD · KFF

Your $60-80k in Salt Lake City feels like $47,960 in St. Louis. Moving would decrease your purchasing power by 31%.

Income
Housing

Salt Lake City

St. Louis

Breathing Room
 
Housing Pressure
moderate
 
low
1BR Rent
$1,456/mo
 
$995/mo
State Tax
UT tax applies
 
MO tax applies
Take-Home /mo
$4,531
 
$4,523
Remote Work Fit
Salt Lake City is a strong remote work market for outdoor-focused workers. Silicon Slopes' tech community provides strong networking even for remote roles. The ski season benefit is unmatched among major metros.
 
St. Louis represents one of the strongest value propositions among major metros — the lowest housing costs of the 35 metros, free museum access in Forest Park, and a revitalizing arts and restaurant scene.
Walk Score
59
 
66
Comfortable
$60-80k · Salt Lake City vs St. Louis
Income Reality Check

Your details stay on your device. Sharing generates an image only.

Curious what a raise — or a different path — would change?

THEN — $60-80k
NOW — $60-80k
~$4,531/mo take-home

At $60-80k in Salt Lake City, your picture shifts from comfortable toward comfortable.

No city is objectively better. Salt Lake City and St. Louis each fit different priorities — the right one depends on what you're building toward.

Related comparisons

Salt Lake City vs DenverSalt Lake City vs PhoenixSalt Lake City vs Seattle
Salt Lake City profile St. Louis profile Run Reality Check →
FAQ

Salt Lake City vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salt Lake City or St. Louis?

HUD FY2026 1BR Fair Market Rent is $1,456/mo in Salt Lake City and $995/mo in St. Louis. St. Louis has lower median housing costs. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR.

How much do I need to earn in St. Louis to match Salt Lake City?

At a $60-80k income, $70,000 in Salt Lake City feels like approximately $47,960 in St. Louis — a reduction of about 31% in purchasing power.

What is the state tax difference between Salt Lake City and St. Louis?

Salt Lake City is in UT (UT levies income tax) and St. Louis is in MO (MO levies income tax). Source: Tax Foundation 2025.

Which city has more breathing room?

Breathing room depends on your income and housing situation. Use the interactive comparison above to see how each city's picture changes across income bands.

Income Reality Check is an educational tool, not financial advice. Your situation has more dimensions than any tool can capture.