Cost of Living in Cedar City, UT
Updated November 2026 · Iron County · Cedar City, UT micropolitan area · population 38,524
Prices in Cedar City are 8.6% below the US average (local index 91.4; the BEA index for nonmetropolitan Utah is 93.1), with local housing the biggest saving at 62.9; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,235 a month and the median rent is $1,054.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Cedar City's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for nonmetropolitan Utah, unchanged.
Cedar City price index by category, US average = 100: All items 91.4, Housing (rents) 62.9, Goods 96.4, Utilities 78.6, Other services 99.0
It is the least expensive of the 19 Utah cities in our data. Cheaper than 87% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.3 | 89.2 | 88.9 | 89.9 | 90.7 | 93.1 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cedar City, UT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $666 | $7,992 | 30% |
| Utilities | $196 | $2,352 | 9% |
| Food at home | $272 | $3,264 | 12% |
| Transportation | $590 | $7,080 | 26% |
| Health care | $348 | $4,176 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $163 | $1,956 | 7% |
| Total | $2,235 | $26,820 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cedar City, UT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $890 | $10,680 | 23% |
| Utilities | $313 | $3,756 | 8% |
| Food at home | $502 | $6,024 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,166 | $13,992 | 30% |
| Health care | $645 | $7,740 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $320 | $3,840 | 8% |
| Total | $3,836 | $46,032 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cedar City, UT
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,188 | $14,256 | 24% |
| Utilities | $381 | $4,572 | 8% |
| Food at home | $716 | $8,592 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,554 | $18,648 | 32% |
| Health care | $601 | $7,212 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $412 | $4,944 | 8% |
| Total | $4,852 | $58,224 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Cedar City
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $907 |
| 1 bedroom | $738 |
| 2 bedrooms | $986 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,317 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,460 modelled from city median rent |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,054 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $951 |
| Median home value | $377,000 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,622/mo |
| Median household income | $63,589 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 31.4% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 5.9× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Utah
13.31¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: −2.3% (from 13.62¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 786 kWh a month in Utah ≈ $104/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)
$4.21 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +43.4% (from $2.94) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Utah is covered by the Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Cedar City are 8.6% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $65,600 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 91.4. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George, UT | 50 mi | 97.7 | $2,487 | $1,545 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | 91.4 | $2,172 | $985 |
| Cuyahoga Falls, OH | 91.4 | $2,357 | $1,038 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 91.5 | $2,212 | $974 |
| Dalton, GA | 91.5 | $2,383 | $996 |
| Iowa City, IA | 91.5 | $2,335 | $1,094 |
| Peoria, IL | 91.4 | $2,191 | $1,005 |
Compare Cedar City with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar City, UT an expensive place to live?
Cedar City has a local cost of living index of 91.4, which is 8.6% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for nonmetropolitan Utah (93.1) and adjusts housing to Cedar City's own rents. It is 7.4 points below the Utah average. It is the least expensive of the 19 Utah cities in our data. Cheaper than 87% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Cedar City?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,235 for a single adult, $3,836 for a couple and $4,852 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $54,900 in Cedar City.
What is the average rent in Cedar City?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,054 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $738, 2 bedrooms $986, 3 bedrooms $1,317. The typical renter spends 31.4% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Cedar City?
The median owner-estimated home value is $377,000, 5.9 times the median household income of $63,589 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,622 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Cedar City?
Utah residential electricity averaged 13.31¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.21 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for Utah nonmetropolitan portion (BEA index 93.1) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 4911320 (Cedar City city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Utah residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- BEA area index: state nonmetro figure (in a micropolitan area; BEA publishes RPPs only for metro areas).
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources