Denver vs Salt Lake City: Cost of Living, Taxes, Laws

Denver

Colorado state data

Moderate tax burden · COL index 110

Wins 3 categories

Salt Lake City

Utah state data

Moderate tax burden · COL index 101

Wins 9 categories

Data reflects Colorado vs Utah state-level figures.

Denver sits in Colorado, which has flat 4.4% income tax, 6th lowest property tax, median home $545K. Salt Lake City sits in Utah, which has flat 4.65% income tax, 4th lowest property tax, median home $500K. Utah costs a median household about $510 a year less in state and local taxes than Colorado, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $2,200 a year against $2,616 in Colorado. Read the full Colorado vs Utah comparison.

Colorado

Utah

Taxes

4.4%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.65%

0.48%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.44%/yr

7.76%

Sales Tax (avg)

7.19%

Yes

Taxes Social Security

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

110

COL Index (100=avg)

101

$545K

Median Home Price

$500K

$1,850/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,650/mo

$3K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

453

Violent Crime / 100K

237

2,859

Property Crime / 100K

2,280

Healthcare

#9 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#31 of 50

78.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

9.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#9 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#37 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,600/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,150/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$110/mo

$530/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$490/mo

#30 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#17 of 50

Social Policy

A-

Gun Laws Grade

D+11.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

Denver

Salt Lake City

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