Hillsboro vs Provo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hillsboro
Provo
The Verdict
Provo is 23.1% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hillsboro would need approximately $60,938 in Provo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has the same purchasing power as $60,938 in Provo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Provo equals $92,308 in Hillsboro.
Living in Hillsboro vs Provo
Housing Costs
Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Provo's 112, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $380,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,300/mo in Provo, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 98 in Provo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $466/month in Provo. Provo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 87 in Provo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $348 in Provo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $51,048 in Provo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $49,085 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,191/month in Provo. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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