City Comparison

Provo vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Provo

Utah
104
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,048
Median Income

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

5.5%

Living in Provo costs 5.5% less than Sugar Land. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Provo, you would need $79,327 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
112
Provo
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
98
Provo
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
87
Provo
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
101
Provo
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
97
Provo
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Provo has the same purchasing power as $79,327 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $70,909 in Provo.

Living in Provo vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Provo's housing index of 112 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $456,000. The $76,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,944 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in Provo compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Provo and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Provo vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 87 in Provo and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Provo vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Provo and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $51,048 in Provo and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,085 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,191/month to housing in Provo vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Provo, median rent of $1,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Provo is 5.5% more affordable overall with an index of 104 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Provo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,327 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Provo's housing index is 112 with median homes at $380,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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