Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Utah vs Washington comes down to what you value. Utah is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 9% lower than Washington, so the same paycheck stretches further. Utah ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#3 vs #5), balancing cost against quality of life. Utah is strongest on economy and weakest on air quality; Washington is strongest on economy and weakest on safety.
| Metric | Utah | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 1.01 1% above average | 1.11 11% above average |
| Best Life Rank | #3 | #5 |
| Cost of living | #33 | #38 |
| Climate | #15 | #11 |
| Healthcare | #8 | #9 |
| Schools | #12 | #13 |
| Safety | #9 | #44 |
| Economy | #1 | #5 |
| Air quality | #43 | #13 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Utah, you'd need about $109,500 in Washington.
To live the way $100,000 does in Washington, you'd need about $91,000 in Utah.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Utah taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Washington taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Utah is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 9% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 1.01 versus 1.11. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Utah ranks higher (#3 vs #5). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Utah leads on economy while Washington leads on economy.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Utah is roughly equivalent to $109,500 in Washington for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.