St. George cost of living
Prices in the St. George, UT metro area run at 97.3 against a national average of 100, ranking it #125 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 98.1.
What drives the number
Prices in St. George run at 97.3 where the national average is 100, so about 2.7 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #125 of 387 metro areas. Against Utah as a whole it is 1.6 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 96.4, rents at 98.1, other services at 77.7. Goods are close to national almost everywhere, because most are shipped and priced nationally, so it is worth noticing when rents behave the same way.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 97.3 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in St. George is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 3,220 | $28,570 | $29,363 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,530 | $34,200 | $35,149 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,470 | $75,280 | $77,369 | $102,950 |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,050 | $39,220 | $40,308 | $43,630 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,980 | $37,820 | $38,869 | $37,090 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,940 | $39,680 | $40,781 | $42,830 |
| Construction Laborers | 1,860 | $44,760 | $46,002 | $46,730 |
| Cashiers | 1,850 | $29,840 | $30,668 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 97.3.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | 100.9 | 123.3 | #72 |
| Ogden | 100.3 | 117.9 | #82 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | 98.2 | 104.1 | #110 |
| Logan | 95.9 | 91.0 | #148 |
St. George: common questions
Is St. George expensive?
Prices are 2.7% below the national average, a parity of 97.3 where the country is 100. It ranks #125 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Utah as a whole it is 1.6 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in St. George?
The median worker there earns $44,070, which buys what $45,293 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 98.1 against goods at 96.4. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.