City Comparison

Lancaster vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lancaster

California
128
Expensive
$447,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$81,500
Median Income

Ogden

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

The Verdict

19.6%

Living in Ogden costs 19.6% less than Lancaster. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $62,695 in Ogden.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
148
Lancaster
112
Ogden
Groceries
109
Lancaster
92
Ogden
Utilities
111
Lancaster
80
Ogden
Transportation
138
Lancaster
101
Ogden
Healthcare
96
Lancaster
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lancaster has the same purchasing power as $62,695 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $89,720 in Lancaster.

Living in Lancaster vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Lancaster's housing index of 148 is higher Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $447,000 vs $385,000. The $62,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,032 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Lancaster compared to $1,250/mo in Ogden, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 109 in Lancaster and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Lancaster vs $437/month in Ogden. Ogden offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 111 in Lancaster and 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $444 in Lancaster 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 96 in Lancaster 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 $81,500 in Lancaster and $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,672 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 $1,902/month to housing in Lancaster vs $1,636/month in Ogden. In Lancaster, median rent of $1,625/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 Transportation, where the gap is 37 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ogden is 19.6% more affordable overall with an index of 107 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Lancaster has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,695 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Lancaster's housing index is 148 with median homes at $447,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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