City Comparison

Alexandria vs Provo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Provo

Utah
104
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,048
Median Income

The Verdict

39.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 39.4%, with Provo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $53,793 in Provo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
112
Provo
Groceries
113
Alexandria
98
Provo
Utilities
97
Alexandria
87
Provo
Transportation
107
Alexandria
101
Provo
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
97
Provo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $53,793 in Provo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Provo equals $104,567 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Provo

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Provo's 112, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $380,000. The $210,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,656 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,300/mo in Provo, a monthly difference of $825.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 98 in Provo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $466/month in Provo. Provo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 87 in Provo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $348 in Provo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 97 in Provo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $51,048 in Provo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $49,085 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,191/month in Provo. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Provo, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Provo is 39.4% more affordable overall with an index of 104 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,793 in Provo, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Provo's is 112 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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