City Comparison

Gresham vs Provo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Provo

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

The Verdict

23.1%

Living in Provo costs 23.1% less than Gresham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gresham, you would need $60,938 in Provo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
112
Provo
Groceries
101
Gresham
98
Provo
Utilities
96
Gresham
87
Provo
Transportation
126
Gresham
101
Provo
Healthcare
103
Gresham
97
Provo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $60,938 in Provo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Provo equals $92,308 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Provo

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Provo's 112, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $380,000. The $79,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,136 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,300/mo in Provo, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 98 in Provo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $466/month in Provo. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gresham and 87 in Provo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $348 in Provo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $51,048 in Provo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $49,085 respectively. Gresham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,191/month in Provo. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Provo is 23.1% more affordable overall with an index of 104 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,938 in Provo, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Provo's is 112 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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