Considering a move to Salt Lake City? Located at the base of the stunning Wasatch Mountains, this vibrant mid-sized city offers young professionals, families, and retirees a blend of urban amenities, outdoor adventure, and more. Here are the major pros and cons of living in Salt Lake City, Utah!
Pros of Living in Salt Lake City
Pro: Top Jobs & Growing Tech Industry in SLC
With a low unemployment rate and an income per capita that’s 31% higher than the national average, it’s no surprise that Salt Lake City is one of the best cities for jobs. SLC offers careers in a variety of key industries—including life sciences, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. Additionally, due to its growing tech sector, the Salt Lake City region has become known as the “Silicon Slopes“—Utah’s own Silicon Valley. With great opportunities at tech start-ups as well as top employers like Extra Space Storage, Intermountain Healthcare, Qualtrics, and more, SLC is an excellent place to start or advance your career. Not to mention, Salt Lake City is one of the top cities for remote work, as well!
Pro: High-Quality SLC Schools
Some of the best colleges in Utah are found in Salt Lake City, making it a great place to further your education. Explore paths in economics, nursing, and nutrition at the University of Utah. Enroll in prominent accounting, psychology, or environmental science programs at Westminster University. Passionate about health sciences? Engage in classes for X-Ray assistance, dentistry, and practical nursing at Fortis College in Salt Lake City. Study project management, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and more at Ensign College. Pursue technical majors like computer graphics modeling, VR simulation, and data engineering at Neumont College of Computer Science. Or take transferable credit classes in business, nursing, or computer science at Salt Lake Community College.
Pro: Enjoy Outdoor Activities Year-Round
Considered one of the best places to live near the mountains and best cities for outdoor recreation, Salt Lake City allows you to experience a vibrant array of outdoor activities year-round. Get outside and enjoy scenic hikes filled with wildflowers and waterfalls during springtime at Antelope Island. Challenge yourself to fun trails just outside the city like Mueller Park Trail to Rudy’s Flat or Donut Falls Trail. Hike, bike, or boat along the Great Salt Lake. Attend lively outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, and festivals in Downtown Salt Lake City. Enjoy a beautiful mountain drive, pick apples, apricots, and cherries at Burgess Orchards in nearby Alpine. Or see “The Greatest Snow on Earth” at nearby resorts in towns like Alta, Snowbird, and Park City—which all offer unparalleled skiing and snowboarding opportunities!
Pro: Plenty of Family-Friendly Fun Across the Metro
Salt Lake City is a fantastic place for families—brimming with engaging activities for all ages! Explore diverse animal exhibits, take interactive summer camp classes, or enjoy nighttime events like ZOOluminate at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Take a greenhouse tour or wild bugs at Tracy Aviary. Enjoy hands-on fun in exhibits like I Dig Dinos and The Stillson River Railroad Exhibit, or explore the Honey Climber in the Garden at the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum. Observe the mysteries of space, experience light show concerts for artists like Taylor Swift and Rush, or watch movies on the Dome at the Clark Planetarium. Explore over 450 acres of historical buildings and exhibits at This is the Place Heritage Park. Take a family trip and experience world-class skiing, hiking, and diverse recreational activities in stunning locations like Big Cottonwood Canyon and Avenues Twin Peaks. Feel the rush of a summer bobsled ride or take a tour of the grounds at the Utah Olympic Park, a short drive from the city.
Pro: Art, Culture, & Museums Galore
Salt Lake City provides an array of cultural adventures at museums, performing arts venues, and events! Immerse yourself in unique Contemporary folk art from various cultural and occupational groups in the Living Folk Arts education series, traditional crafts in the Works, Refined exhibit, and live music at the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts. Delve into the natural wonders of Utah’s ecosystem or gaze at the world’s largest collection of horned dinosaur skulls at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Catch a captivating play like Noises Off or King James at the Pioneer Theatre Company. Experience the grandeur of the classical music of Stravinsky or modern classics like Harry Potter by the Utah Symphony & Utah Opera. Appreciate an expansive collection spanning ancient to cutting-edge Contemporary art when you visit the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. Celebrate the magic of live music, art, dance, film, and more at the annual Utah Arts Festival. Enjoy outdoor concerts under the stars, featuring a diverse lineup of popular and emerging musical artists, including Mt. Joy, Big Thief, and Japanese Breakfast, at the Twilight Summer Concert Series. Attend the parade, shop the market of local vendors, and share the joy at the SLC Pride Festival.
Pro: Dynamic Sports Scene
The sports scene in Salt Lake City is uniquely dynamic, boasting a diverse professional landscape and enthusiastic collegiate following that ensures year-round entertainment. Catch the Utah Jazz (NBA) in action at the Delta Center. Cheer for the men and women who play for Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Utah Royals (NWSL) at America First Field. Enjoy an evening rooting for the Salt Lake Bees (MiLB) at The Ballpark at America First Square. Take a quick drive to West Valley City to sit in for a Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) hockey game at Maverik Center. Or head to the University of Utah—one of the best NCAA schools for tailgating—to support the Utes (FBS) at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Pro: Salt Lake City Has Great Food Options
Salt Lake City’s food scene is a blend of diverse flavors, offering a wide range of options—from comforting classics to international delights! Sip a Ski Lift Latte or Blackberry Planet while munching on Coffee Cake or the 7 Deadly Cinns bagel at Sunroom Coffee. Grab a short stack of Heavenly Hot Cakes, Smothered Burrito, or a Garden Skillet for breakfast at Penny Ann’s Cafe. Make a reservation to enjoy innovative dishes like Milk Braised Potatoes, Roasted Duck Breast, or Ahi Tuna Tataki at Oquirrh. Dive in to traditional Afghan dishes like Squash Mantu, Chicken Sambosa, or Kufta at Afghan Kitchen. Delight in delicious Japanese desserts like a Chocolate Fudge Taiyaki Sundae, Panna Cotta, or Peach Cheesecake Bento at Doki Doki. Celebrate SLC’s culinary prowess with events like the Eat Drink SLC festival, an annual event that showcases the vibrant local food and beverage scene through tastings and chef demonstrations, making it a true highlight for foodies.
Cons of Living in Salt Lake City
Con: Higher-than-Average Cost of Living
While Salt Lake City offers a dynamic lifestyle, it does come with a higher cost of living—sitting 22% above the national average and 18% higher than the state average. This is primarily driven by housing, with a median home price of $346,100—87% higher than the national average. However, the median rent price of $1,050 is only around 11% higher than the national average, making renting a more accessible option. Residents also benefit from lower costs for healthcare and utilities compared to the U.S. average. Plus, Salt Lake City remains more affordable in terms of pricing and overall cost of living compared to cities with similar characteristics—like Denver—and has plenty of affordable neighborhoods to choose from.
To compare Salt Lake City’s cost of living to your current location, use our cost of living calculator.
Con: More People, More Traffic
While Salt Lake City’s growing population is a good thing, it also comes with a few new problems—including more road congestion. SLC is largely car-dependent, and though average commute times are shorter than the U.S. average, locals still find SLC traffic to be an issue on major interstates like I-15 and I-80 during peak hours. It’s important to remember, however, that this is par for the course in cities with a workforce that works from 9 to 5. Additionally, SLC boasts an efficient and expanding public transit system managed by Utah Transit Authority (UTA), making the city more possible to navigate without a car. Take advantage of the TRAX light rail system or extensive bus network to get around the city and its suburbs. Utilize the FrontRunner commuter rail system that operates between Ogden and Provo. Rent a bike through GREENbike—Utah’s nonprofit bike share program—to get from place to place on one of the city’s numerous bike lanes and trails. Another perk to being a major and growing metro in the region—the city also hosts the Salt Lake City International Airport, so those traveling far distances can deal with fewer connecting flights.
Con: Safety Concerns
Like any major metropolitan area, safety is something to think about when moving to Salt Lake City. The city’s total crime rate is 186% higher than the U.S. average. However, the city is actively taking steps to enhance safety through law enforcement and other community initiatives—strategies that have resulted in reduced crime rates in recent years. Not to mention, there are a variety of family-friendly neighborhoods in SLC with especially low crime rates that you can consider settling down in for added peace of mind.
Con: Air Quality Can Be a Challenge
Due to its valley location, Salt Lake City can experience prolonged periods known as winter inversions, leading to hazy skies and poorer air quality. This phenomenon, along with wildfire smoke from regional fires and pollution from cars, can impact respiratory health and limit outdoor activities—particularly for individuals prone to breathing conditions or difficulties, like asthma. The ongoing drought affecting the Great Salt Lake further magnifies air quality concerns, as a shrinking lake bed can lead to increased dust in the air. To help residents cope, Salt Lake City offers various resources designed to improve air quality. The city has also made significant strides in reducing transportation-related pollution in recent years, promoting cleaner transit options and encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles.
Con: Strict Liquor Laws in SLC
Utah has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the country. Full-strength beer (over 5% ABV), liquor, and wine are only available at state-controlled liquor stores, which have limited hours and are closed on Sundays and holidays. Restaurants must have a specific license to serve liquor and must serve it with food. These laws can be a noticeable adjustment for newcomers accustomed to more liberal access to alcohol. But while nightlife options may be more limited than in other cities, there’s still plenty of fun to be had after dark in Salt Lake City! Enjoy the extensive wine list at BTG Wine Bar, experience the vibrant atmosphere at LGBTQ-friendly Why Kiki, or immerse yourself in an eclectic night of dinner, drinks, and live music at Lake Effect.
Free Resources For Your Salt Lake City Relocation
- Use our moving cost calculator to estimate costs
- Calculate the number of moving boxes you need based on home size
- Find free and cheap moving boxes in Salt Lake City
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The team at Extra Space Storage understand that moving to a new city can be stressful, which is why we’ve created our Best Places to Live selections to help make the process easier. We’ve done the research for you—considering factors like cost of living, job market, local attractions, and education—to provide a well-rounded and accurate view of each metro area. Check out our methodology page today to learn more about how we select the best places to live.
