City Comparison

Salt Lake City vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Salt Lake City

Utah
107
Above Average
$440,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$60,590
Median Income

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

16.3%

Living in Twin Falls costs 16.3% less than Salt Lake City. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City, you would need $64,486 in Twin Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Salt Lake City
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
99
Salt Lake City
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
88
Salt Lake City
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
102
Salt Lake City
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
97
Salt Lake City
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City has the same purchasing power as $64,486 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $87,228 in Salt Lake City.

Living in Salt Lake City vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Salt Lake City's housing index of 120 is higher Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $440,000 vs $380,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Salt Lake City compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Salt Lake City and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Salt Lake City vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 88 in Salt Lake City and 85 in Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Salt Lake City vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Salt Lake City and 94 in Twin Falls. 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 $60,590 in Salt Lake City and $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,626 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,414/month to housing in Salt Lake City vs $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Salt Lake City, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Twin Falls is 16.3% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $64,486 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Salt Lake City's housing index is 120 with median homes at $440,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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