Salt Lake City vs Louisville: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Salt Lake City, Utah compare to Louisville, Kentucky? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Louisville is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 124% higher in Salt Lake City compared to Louisville, while rent is 24% higher. State income tax is 4.65% in UT vs 4% in KY.
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Louisville, KY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $458,600 | $204,800 | +123.9% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 | $1,014 | +23.7% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $63,114 | +14.6% |
| Per Capita Income | $46,972 | $37,588 | +25.0% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 4.7% | 4.0% | +16.3% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 7.2% | 6.0% | +19.8% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 201,269 | 629,176 | -68.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Salt Lake City
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Louisville
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Salt Lake City costs $458,600 compared to $204,800 in Louisville — a 124% premium.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,254/mo in Salt Lake City vs $1,014/mo in Louisville.
- Income: Median household income is $72,357 in Salt Lake City and $63,114 in Louisville.
- Taxes: State income tax is 4.65% in Utah vs 4% in Kentucky.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).