How much does it cost to live in Utah?
MERIC's 2021 Cost of Living Index data collected during the third quarter of 2021 indicates that Utah has the 31st lowest cost of living in the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average price of goods and services in the state is 3.4% lower than the national average.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
Housing in Utah can be pricey. How much you will spend depends on the living situation you select. According to 2019 census data, there are over 1,100,000 housing units available, so you'll have lots of options to pick from. In late 2021, Zillow reported that the average home price in Utah was over $515,000!
Utah renters spend $988 per month on housing, $35 less than the national median of $1,035 per month. The average monthly rent for a unit with five or more bedrooms in the state is $1,644, compared to $791 for a unit with one bedroom.
Here's some stats on Utah Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 64.4%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 0.5%
- Rental vacancy rate: 5.4%
Childcare
The annual average cost of child care for a 4-year-old in Utah is $7,646, which is significantly less than the national average of $8,903. It costs an average of $15,095 a year to care for a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old, compared to the national average of $15,853.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $9,945
- 4-Year-Old: $7,646
- School: $11,218
- College: $6,557
Utilities
How much should you budget each month for utilities if you plan to reside in Utah? The average monthly utility bill in the state is $268. Here’s what you need to consider in terms of utility costs:
- Electricity: $80
- Gas: $52
- Cable & Internet: $98
- Water: $38
Food & Groceries
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average annual (non-restaurant) food expense per person in Utah is $3,040, or about $253 per month.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant: $13.5
- Fast food combo (big mac etc.): $8.14
- Bottle of Coca-Cola: $1.91
- Bottle of water: $1.21
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter): $0.86
- Loaf of fresh white bread (500g): $2.61
- Rice (1 Kg): $3.49
- Eggs (regular) (12): $2.84
- 4 Rolls of toilet paper: $3.64
- Hair shampoo: $4.93
Transportation
In Utah, 87.1% of commuters drive to work, compared to the national average of 85.5%. A typical driver in the state travels 10,143 miles annually on average. Considering average fuel economy and average gas prices — standard fuel cost an average of $2.46 per gallon in Utah in mid-2020 — the average Utah driver can expect to spend $1,029 on gas alone in a single year.
According to data from Insure.com, the average car insurance rate in Utah is $1,759, higher than the national average of $1,509. The average single adult in the state spends $9,940 year on transportation, according to EPI data.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Utah is $57,462. Utah has a flat individual income tax rate of 4.85%. There is a 4.85% corporate income tax. In addition, the state sales tax sales tax rate is 6.10%, the maximum local sales tax rate is 2.95%, and the average state and local sales tax rate is 7.19%.
Most expensive Utah cities to live in
- Park City
- Holladay
- Snyderville
- Draper
- Orem
Why is disability insurance important to have in Utah?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that 62.1% of bankruptcies were caused by medical issues. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Utah are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, Utah came in at number 21 for having the most foreclosures. Out of the 1,151,414 homes in the Beehive State, 214 went into foreclosure. This means that one out of every 5,380 homes in the 30th most populous state went into foreclosure.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting a private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable but your income shouldn’t be.
Does Utah have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Utah isn’t one of those states.
If you live in Utah and can't work, you can apply for disability benefits from the federal government through Social Security and SSI. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two types of disability benefits, and Utah's worker's compensation program can give long-term disability benefits for injuries or illnesses that happened at work.
SSDI is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. SSI is only for people with low income and resources.
But it's not as easy as one might think to file a successful Social Security disability claim. In Utah, your chances of getting disability benefits depend on where you are in the process of applying and appealing. At the first stage of applying for benefits, 38% of people from Utah are approved, which is higher than the average of 35% across the country.
What qualifies as disability in Utah?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Utah?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Utah. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Utah?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Utah cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Utah will cost you $3,114 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider while thinking about it:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital. We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employee to corner office executive, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.