Cost of Living in Moab, UT

Population 5,316 · Utah · Data vintage 2023

123

Cost Index
(100 = US avg)

Page updated: April 2026 · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year

Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Moab is a smaller Utah community of around 5000 residents, where median household incomes of $55,333 and housing costs ($479,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. Around 22% of residents live below the federal poverty line, a rate that tends to correlate with the income and housing figures above.

Located 160 miles southeast of Provo, Moab is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Median home values run roughly 10% higher than Provo's $437,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 157

Rent 72

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Moab

The median home value in Moab is $478,700 — 57% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $945/month, 28% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $55,333/year is 26% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.3%, above the national average of 4.8%. Utah's top state income tax rate is 4.5% and the combined sales tax is 5.9%. The climate averages highs of 67.5°F and lows of 40.6°F. Overall, Moab has a cost of living index of 123 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 23% more expensive.

📍

Moab has limited residential data

Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:

Vernal, UT

Median home: $234,200

Rent: $900/mo

Income: $59,178

Mapleton, UT

Median home: $734,100

Rent: $1,392/mo

Income: $127,860

Santaquin, UT

Median home: $434,700

Rent: $1,165/mo

Income: $95,175

Spanish Fork, UT

Median home: $444,200

Rent: $1,417/mo

Income: $98,497

Payson, UT

Median home: $388,200

Rent: $1,393/mo

Income: $84,286

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value

$478,700

57% above avg

Zillow Home Value

$466,336

Zillow ZHVI

Median Rent

$945/mo

28% below avg

Price-to-Rent Ratio

42.2x

Favors renting

Property Tax Rate

0.6%

Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio

$737

1 BR

$870

2 BR

$1,036

3 BR

$1,418

4 BR

$1,699

Owner-occupied 58.5%

Renter-occupied 41.5%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent

$945

Groceries national estimate

$400

Utilities local estimate

$88

Transportation local gas prices

$126

Estimated Total $1,559/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚

Eggs (dozen)

$0.548

🍞

White Bread (lb)

$1.912

🥩

Ground Beef (lb)

$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute

13.2 min

51% below avg

Gas Price

$3.145/gal

0% below avg

Work From Home

10.8%

Commute Mode

Drove alone

65.0%

Carpooled

12.4%

Walked

2.8%

Bicycle

8.6%

Work from home

10.8%

⚡ Utilities

Electricity

$0.176/kWh

0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) 4.5%

Total Sales Tax 5.9%

State rate 4.8%

Avg local rate 1.1%

Property Tax 0.6%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income

$55,333

26% below avg

Per Capita Income

$34,350

Unemployment Rate

5.3%

10% above avg

Poverty Rate

21.5%

Labor Force Participation

71.5%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 22.2%

Graduate degree 13.2%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 35.6

Male median age 32.3

Female median age 37.9

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High

67.5°F

Avg Low

40.6°F

Annual Precip

6.7"

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	39	47	59	67	78	90	96	93	83	68	52	39
Low °F	17	25	32	39	48	58	66	63	53	40	27	17
Precip"	0.45	0.41	0.54	0.51	0.60	0.33	0.53	0.63	0.89	0.84	0.40	0.53

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 49 — Good

55.2%

Good air days/yr

Max AQI recorded

PM2.5 days

170

Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

87%

4-Year Graduation Rate

16.9:1

Student-teacher ratio

Public schools

1,552

Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Moab, UT?

Moab has a cost index of 123 (100 = national average). It is 23% above the national average.

What is average rent in Moab, UT?

The median gross rent in Moab is $945 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Moab?

The median home value in Moab is $478,700 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Moab?

The median household income in Moab is $55,333 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Moab, UT?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Moab is 5.9%. The Utah state income tax top rate is 4.5%.

Is Moab, UT affordable?

Moab is above average in cost of living, with an index of 123 — about 23% higher than the national average.

What is the weather like in Moab?

Moab has average high temperatures of 67.5°F and average lows of 40.6°F. Annual precipitation is 6.7". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Moab at a Glance

Population: 5,316
Median Income: $55,333
Home Value: $478,700
Median Rent: $945/mo
Unemployment: 5.3%
Avg High Temp: 67.5°F
Sales Tax: 5.9%

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