California
CA • West
Quality of Life Score
50.49
State Comparison
California vs Utah
Utah is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Utah, California has higher incomes, Utah has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.
VS
Utah
UT • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
57.94
California
10
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Utah
21
/ 31
metrics won
UT wins Housing
UT wins Quality of Life
CA wins Climate
UT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
California
vs
Utah
winner
Utah scores higher on quality of life — 7.45 points difference.
Quick Take
California vs Utah
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Utah is about 1.9 times smaller than California.
- California has a larger population than Utah by 36,266,607 people.
- Utah has the lower cost-of-living index. Utah is at 107.2, while California is at 138.5.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.60 of local buying power in Utah, versus $92.31 in California.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Utah is 31.3 points cheaper overall
Utah has the lower cost-of-living index. Utah is at 107.2, while California is at 138.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $11.29 further in Utah
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.60 of local buying power in Utah, versus $92.31 in California.
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Income
California income is 6.3% higher
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, compared with $79,133 in Utah.
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Jobs
California minimum wage is $9.25 higher
California has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Utah.
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Housing
California homes cost about 1.4x more
Utah has the lower median home value at $484,100, versus $693,700 in California.
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Taxes
Utah has lower state income tax
Utah has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.65%, compared with 13.30% in California.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CA
|
UT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Sacramento | Salt Lake City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
39,538,223
|
3,271,616
|
|
Median Income
|
$84,097
|
$79,133
|
|
Cost of Living
|
138.5
|
107.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$693,700
|
$484,100
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.70%
|
0.52%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
13.30%
|
4.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.50/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$5.929/gal
|
$4.162/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.29 c/kWh
|
12.88 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.49
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
59.4°F
|
48.6°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
146 days
|
125 days
|
|
Land Area
|
163,696 sq mi
|
84,897 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
241.5 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
September 9, 1850 (#31)
|
January 4, 1896 (#45)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
19
shown
Saving Money
Utah is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 107.2 vs 138.5 in California. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Utah is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.162/gal in Utah vs $5.929/gal in California. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
California has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California vs $7.25/hr in Utah. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Utah has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.88 c/kWh in Utah vs 30.29 c/kWh in California. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Utah is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 6.12x in Utah vs 8.25x in California. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Utah is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 21.1% in Utah vs 26.5% in California. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
People Also Ask
California vs Utah - Common Questions
Q Is California cheaper to live in than Utah?
Utah has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Utah scores 107.2 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 31.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - California or Utah?
$100 goes further in Utah. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.60 in Utah, compared with $92.31 in California.
Q Which state is bigger - California or Utah?
California is larger, covering 163,696 sq mi compared with 84,897 sq mi for Utah - roughly 1.9x the size.
Q Does California or Utah have more people?
California has the larger population at 39,538,223, compared with 3,271,616 in Utah.
Q Which state has higher household income - California or Utah?
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, versus $79,133 in Utah.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - California or Utah?
Utah has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.65%, compared with 13.30% in California.
Q Is housing cheaper in California or Utah?
Homes are cheaper in Utah, where the median home value is $484,100, versus $693,700 in California.
Q Which state is more densely populated - California or Utah?
California is more densely populated at 241.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Utah is more spread out at 38.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.