Salary Needed to Live in Provo as a Couple

A couple sharing expenses without children needs approximately $75,344/year to live comfortably in Provo, UT, including 12% savings.

Direct Answer

A couple (no kids) needs about $75,344/year to live comfortably in Provo, UT. The bare-minimum salary is $62,959/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 12% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $4,455.

The minimum scenario leaves about $3,830/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $6,279/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$75,344
with 12% savings
Bare Minimum
$62,959
$5,247/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$3,830
14% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Couple in Provo

ExpenseProvoNat'l AvgDiff
1-2BR Apartment Rent$1,014$1,641-38%
Groceries$503$320+57%
Utilities$206$225-8%
Transportation$430$421+2%
Car Insurance$195$215-9%
Health Insurance$459$642-29%
Internet$69$65+6%
Phone (x2)$148$140+6%
Dining & Social$477$450+6%
Entertainment$191$180+6%
Personal Care (x2)$138$130+6%
Total Monthly$3,830$4,429-14%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$3,830
Target savings (12%):$625/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$4,455
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$75,344

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$1,014

1-2BR Apartment rent is 26% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
27%

Estimated federal plus UT state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
12%

$625/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
106/100

Provo is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities

Colorado Springs, CO
$80,931/yr
$5,587 more than Provo
Chandler, AZ
$88,328/yr
$12,984 more than Provo
Las Vegas, NV
$80,970/yr
$5,626 more than Provo
Fresno, CA
$76,879/yr
$1,535 more than Provo

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep 1-2br apartment housing near $1,014/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $1,023/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone (x2).
  3. Use $62,959/year as the survival floor and $75,344/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Provo

Single Person
$56,686/yr
$2,976/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$131,379/yr
$6,350/mo expenses
Retiree
$53,700/yr
$3,043/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in ProvoCity OverviewRent in ProvoMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a couple (no kids) need in Provo?
A couple (no kids) needs approximately $75,344/year ($6,279/month gross) to live comfortably in Provo with a 12% savings rate.
How much is rent for a couple (no kids) in Provo?
A 1-2br apartment in Provo costs approximately $1,014/month, which is the largest single expense at 26% of the total budget.
Is Provo affordable for a couple (no kids)?
Yes, Provo is 14% more affordable than the national average for a couple (no kids).
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