Utah
Moderate tax burden · COL index 101
Wins 9 categories
Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 7 categories
Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Utah's 0.44%. The median home in Utah costs $500K vs $275K in Illinois. Politically, Utah voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
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Healthcare
Education
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Utilities & Daily Costs
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Category wins
9
Utah
7
Illinois
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Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Is it cheaper to live in Utah or Illinois?
Overall cost of living in Chicago, IL is 13.1% higher than in Salt Lake City, UT. The average listing price for a home in Chicago, IL is $626,590, which is 8.2% higher than Salt Lake City, UT. The average cost of groceries in Chicago, IL is 5.8% higher than Salt Lake City, UT.
Why are so many people moving out of Utah?
What are the pros and cons of living in Utah?
Where does Utah rank in Best Place to Live?
Utah has topped U.S. News & World Report's Best States ranking for the third straight year, scoring high in seven of eight categories including fiscal stability, economy, and infrastructure. New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota, and Nebraska round out the top five.