City Comparison

Lowell vs St George

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

St George

Utah
110
Above Average
$550,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$72,400
Median Income

The Verdict

19.1%

St George is 19.1% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lowell would need approximately $62,977 in St George to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
152
Lowell
144
St George
Groceries
104
Lowell
100
St George
Utilities
151
Lowell
87
St George
Transportation
108
Lowell
104
St George
Healthcare
118
Lowell
96
St George

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lowell has the same purchasing power as $62,977 in St George.

Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $89,318 in Lowell.

Living in Lowell vs St George

Housing Costs

Lowell's housing index of 152 is higher St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $429,000 vs $550,000. The $121,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,860 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Lowell compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Lowell and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Lowell vs $475/month in St George. 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 151 in Lowell and 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $604 in Lowell vs $348 in St George. 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 118 in Lowell and 96 in St George. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $79,700 in Lowell and $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,840 and $65,818 respectively. St George residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,860/month to housing in Lowell vs $1,689/month in St George. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St George is 19.1% more affordable overall with an index of 110 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Lowell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,977 in St George, based on the cost of living difference.
Lowell's housing index is 152 with median homes at $429,000, while St George's is 144 with median homes at $550,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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