City Comparison

Ithaca vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

Ogden

Utah
107
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

12.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.1%, with Ithaca being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Ithaca has equivalent purchasing power to $85,372 in Ogden.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
117
Ithaca
112
Ogden
Groceries
103
Ithaca
92
Ogden
Utilities
102
Ithaca
80
Ogden
Transportation
96
Ithaca
101
Ogden
Healthcare
99
Ithaca
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $85,372 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $65,888 in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Ithaca's housing index of 117 is higher Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $385,000. The $61,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,960 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $1,250/mo in Ogden, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca vs $437/month in Ogden. Ogden offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Ithaca and 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca vs $320 in Ogden. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Ithaca and 91 in Ogden. 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 $48,600 in Ithaca and $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 and $65,514 respectively. Ogden residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $1,636/month in Ogden. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca is 12.1% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,372 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Ithaca's housing index is 117 with median homes at $324,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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