South Salt Lake, UT vs Payson, UT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Payson, UT has a modeled overall cost index 1.5% lower than South Salt Lake, UT.

South Salt Lake, UT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,580 / month
Payson, UT · modeled 2BR rent
$1,500 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare South Salt Lake, UT and Payson, UT using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $298/month in Payson, UT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,575 in Payson, UT

Regional cost estimates: South Salt Lake, UT uses Boise, ID. Payson, UT uses North Las Vegas, NV. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$298
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

South Salt Lake, UT

Population:26K
Cost Index:
87.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$446K

Payson, UT

Population:24K
Cost Index:
86.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$513K

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South Salt Lake, UT

The Beehive State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Utah, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Payson, UT

The Beehive State

24K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Utah, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Salt Lake, UT vs Payson, UT

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Transportation
↑ 18.0%
South Salt Lake, UT
$1,226
Payson, UT
$1,447
Difference
$221
more
Groceries
↑ 6.8%
South Salt Lake, UT
$995
Payson, UT
$1,063
Difference
$67.89
more
Other
↓ 2.5%
South Salt Lake, UT
$1,642
Payson, UT
$1,600
Difference
$41.10
less
Housing
↑ 1.3%
South Salt Lake, UT
$2,488
Payson, UT
$2,521
Difference
$32.83
more
All Utilities
↑ 5.2%
South Salt Lake, UT
$494
Payson, UT
$520
Difference
$25.61
more
Healthcare
↓ 1.3%
South Salt Lake, UT
$655
Payson, UT
$647
Difference
$8.37
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,120
To$1,290
↑ $170
1 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,300
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,580
To$1,500
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$2,120
To$2,090
↓ $30.00
South Salt Lake, UTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/mo

Payson, UTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in South Salt Lake, UT
$7,798
Monthly in Payson, UT
$298
Difference

Home Values

South Salt Lake
Payson
$446K
Median Value
$513K
↑ +2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +3.6%
↑ +29.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +36%

Homes in Payson are 15% more expensive than South Salt Lake

Calculate payment - South Salt LakeCalculate payment - Payson

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

South Salt Lake, UT

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Utah State Tax
Effective: 4.9%
$7.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.5%
$44.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,809/month
$105.7K

Payson, UT

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Utah State Tax
Effective: 4.9%
$7.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.5%
$44.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,809/month
$105.7K

Additional Tax Information

South Salt Lake, UT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Payson, UT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

South Salt Lake
Payson
44 Good
Air Quality
64 Moderate
62.8%
Good Air Days
24.6%
88 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥💨
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌡
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
49 days
Heat Days >95°F
144 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
49 days
Heat Days >95°F
144 days

Before moving from South Salt Lake, UT to Payson, UT

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Payson, UT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in South Salt Lake, UT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your South Salt Lake to Payson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Payson, UT by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: South Salt Lake, UT vs Payson, UT

How do the cost estimates for South Salt Lake, UT and Payson, UT compare?

Payson, UT has a modeled overall cost index 1.5% lower than South Salt Lake, UT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in South Salt Lake, UT, the model estimates $153,575 in Payson, UT. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for South Salt Lake, UT and Payson, UT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,580/month in South Salt Lake, UT and $1,500/month in Payson, UT. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than South Salt Lake, UT on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $11.72/mo

Similar cost to Payson, UT

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