Overall
98.2
-1.8 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
Cost-of-living indicators for Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 98.2
- Overall RPP
- #110
- of 387 metros
- 104.1
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Provo costs less than 28% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.2, 1.8% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 78.6.
- 98.2
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #110
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 72%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 104.1
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $101,800 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,232.
What the Numbers Mean for Provo
Provo ranks #110 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.2, Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT is 1.8% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Provo's most and least expensive categories — rents at 104.1 versus services at 78.6 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $101,800 inside Provo, while a household needs roughly $98,232 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 104.1 — 4.1% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Provo's overall index has stayed within 1.1 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.4 and services at 78.6, meaning everyday spending in Provo is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Provo vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
98 Top 28% higher than 72% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Provo cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
104.1 RPP
- Services
Services
78.6 RPP
- Overall
Overall
98.2 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.4 RPP
What this shows Provo's gap from the national average is led by services at 78.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Provo's cost comes from
Metros near Provo's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.4, rents 101.6). Provo is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Provo's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.4
-3.6 below avg
Services
78.6
-21.4 below avg
Rents
104.1
+4.1 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$98,232
in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,116
$75,000 nationally
$73,674
$125,000 nationally
$122,790
$150,000 nationally
$147,348
$200,000 nationally
$196,464
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.1 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 100.4 |
| 2013 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 97.8 |
| 2016 | 97.0 |
| 2017 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 96.7 |
| 2019 | 98.2 |
| 2020 | 94.8 |
| 2021 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 94.9 |
| 2023 | 95.7 |
| 2024 | 98.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT's index of 98.2.
Other UT Metros
What this means for Provo
How to read Provo's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $101,800 in Provo. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 104.1 (4.1% above average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $96,745; adjusted for Provo's price level that is about $98,486 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Provo head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT? ▼
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.2, meaning it is 1.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.4, services at 78.6, and rents at 104.1. It ranks #110 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,232 in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT. Conversely, $100K earned in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT has the purchasing power of $101,800 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT? ▼
Rents in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT are indexed at 104.1, which is 4.1% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT's overall cost index changed by +1.1 points (from 97.1 to 98.2). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT? ▼
The most expensive category in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT is rents at 104.1, which is 4.1% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 78.6, 21.4% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Prescott Valley-Prescott, Lancaster, Merced. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT's 98.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
