Cost of Living: Santa Clara, CA vs Provo, UT (2026)

Santa Clara

California
307
VS

Provo

Utah
102

Santa Clara is 201% more expensive than Provo.

$2,985/mo ↑ 159%
Median Rent
$1,152/mo ↓ 61%
$173,670/yr ↑ 177%
Median Income
$62,800/yr ↓ 64%
$1,527,900 ↑ 250%
Home Value
$437,100 ↓ 71%
$3,051/mo ↑ 150%
Owner Costs
$1,220/mo ↓ 60%
129,239
Population
114,303

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
4.65%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.1%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.58%

Affordability

20.6%
rent-to-income
Affordability
22.0%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clara, CA and Provo, UT, the overall cost of living indices are 307 and 102 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,833/month cheaper in Provo, saving renters about $21,996/year.

Median household income is $110,870/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clara is $1,527,900 compared to $437,100 in Provo.

Utah has a lower income tax rate, making Provo slightly more tax-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clara vs Provo — common questions

Is Santa Clara or Provo cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Provo is cheaper to live in with an index of 102 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clara and Provo?
Median rent in Santa Clara is $2,985/month and in Provo it's $1,152/month — a difference of $1,833/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clara or Provo?
Median household income is $173,670 in Santa Clara and $62,800 in Provo. Median household income is $110,870/year higher in Santa Clara.
How do taxes compare between California and Utah?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Utah has 4.65% income tax, 6.1% sales tax, and 0.58% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clara or Provo?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with median rent of $2,985/mo, while Provo has a cost index of 102 with rent of $1,152/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clara details → View Provo details →

More Comparisons

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