salaryRent is higher than in 52% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.1 years of household income. Most homes (93.7%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $67,520 a year. That is $32 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Utah cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Utah. It is number 34 of 97 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Salem?
Share of households by yearly income. 40.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Salem
| Size | Salem | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $1,170 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,966 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Salem overall?
Everyday prices in Utah overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Salem, so the Utah figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Salem
Life in Salem
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Salem?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,515 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $605,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $60,570 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Salem, UT?
Renting in Salem costs a median of about $1,688 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Utah median is $1,832.
How much do I need to make to live in Salem?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $67,520 a year, or $32 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Salem cheap or expensive?
Salem is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.9% of the typical household income of $119,840. It ranks 34th cheapest of 97 Utah cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Salem?
The median homeowner in Salem pays $2,668 a year in property taxes, about 0.44% of the median home value.
Is Salem more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Utah are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median home value in Salem is $605,700, about 5.1 times the typical yearly household income.
10,324 people live in Salem. Numbers are typical (middle) values.