$100k salary, packing up from Chicago
changea dispatch from
provo
UT
40.23°N
111.66°W
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
in our guides
the verdict
below Chicago's monthly cost
The gap is real. Provo costs noticeably less than Chicago, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,743/mo
20% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
4.65%
$25/mo less in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,203/mo
$452 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$559k
53% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
733k
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
171
pleasant days a year, in provo.
Chicago keeps to 153 pleasant days a year.
But the calendar thins out: Chicago stays 1295.0× busier.
81/100
16% higher than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Wasatch Mountain State Park, 20.4 mi.
89/100
11% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
91
58% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
compare provo with:
