City Comparison

Lakewood vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lakewood

Colorado
133
Expensive
$574,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$83,800
Median Income

Ogden

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

The Verdict

24.3%

Living in Ogden costs 24.3% less than Lakewood. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lakewood, you would need $60,338 in Ogden.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
188
Lakewood
112
Ogden
Groceries
101
Lakewood
92
Ogden
Utilities
85
Lakewood
80
Ogden
Transportation
114
Lakewood
101
Ogden
Healthcare
84
Lakewood
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lakewood has the same purchasing power as $60,338 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $93,224 in Lakewood.

Living in Lakewood vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Lakewood's housing index of 188 is higher Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $574,000 vs $385,000. The $189,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,288 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Lakewood compared to $1,250/mo in Ogden, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Lakewood and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Lakewood vs $437/month in Ogden. Ogden offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 85 in Lakewood and 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $340 in Lakewood vs $320 in Ogden. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 84 in Lakewood 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 $83,800 in Lakewood and $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,008 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 $1,955/month to housing in Lakewood vs $1,636/month in Ogden. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo fits within this budget. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 76 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ogden is 24.3% more affordable overall with an index of 107 vs 133.
A $75,000 salary in Lakewood has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,338 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Lakewood's housing index is 188 with median homes at $574,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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