Salt Lake City, Utah: A Comprehensive Guide to Moving to the Beehive State’s Capital
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Salt Lake City’s Population Is Growing
In the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains at the crossroads of the West, beside the surreal beauty of a saline inland sea, Salt Lake City in Utah is a state capital like no other. SLC is a college town, a ski town, and a hub for the arts. But this Western outpost is also the Mormon capital of the world, making the city’s history and contemporary culture an outlier among American cities.
Although some of SLC’s traditions hew closely to the LDS Church, this former Gold Rush city quickly became an economic hub after its founding in 1847, and the capital city still has strong operations in mining today. But anyone looking to move to Salt Lake for a new career should know that SLC also has a strong base in more forward-looking enterprises in tech and finance. SLC’s healthy job market has helped fuel the city’s growth, adding 10,000 new residents over the past three years, and bringing its total population to 210,000. But the proximity to the prime slopes remains a constant boon to the tourism industry and a solid draw for newcomers.
Abutting some of the most coveted mountain wilderness in the U.S., Salt Lake City attracts visiting skiers, snowboarders and hikers from around the world. Creatives swarm the cosmopolitan getaways in nearby Park City, where the famous Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival were founded nearly 50 years ago.
Although Salt Lake is down-mountain from the bustling resort towns, the city does have one enormous natural wonder all its own — the Great Salt Lake. Fed by three rivers, this shallow and wide body of water is saltier than the sea, but at its deepest, it is a mere 35 feet deep. The lake’s unusual allure makes for unmatched wilderness experiences, from swimming to horseback riding. Outdoorsy types flock to the area to see the lake but also for hiking, mountain biking, and camping in the Wasatch.
If you’re looking to move to a Western city with a more reasonable cost of living than California or Nevada, Salt Lake City should be a contender on your list. Learn more about SLC neighborhoods, the cost of living and the job market in our moving guide to Salt Lake City below.
When you move to Salt Lake City, you can count on United Van Lines to get you there, seamlessly and stress-free. Get a moving quote now.
Salt Lake City’s Job Market Is Also Growing
Salt Lake City got its financial start during the gold rush, and mining is still a vital sector of the city’s economy, employing close to 60,000 residents and supplying vital metals and minerals to businesses around the globe. Unsurprisingly, the government is another sector that has a strong presence in this state capital — more than 118,000 residents are employed in this sector.
But the largest single, non-farm, non-governmental industry in Salt Lake is trade, transportation and utilities, which employs more than 161,000 people. Professional and business services is a close second, with 146,000 employees, followed by education and health services, with 100,000.
Academia has a large presence in Salt Lake City. The University of Utah has been named the #1 public university in the West by the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. News and World Report ranks it in the top 50 public universities nationwide. Its 35,000 students contribute greatly to the city’s youthful vibe, and the student body hails from over 40 nations. Other area schools include Westminster University and Brigham Young University in nearby Provo, just 45 minutes south of Salt Lake. In addition to “The U,” Salt Lake’s other major employers include Intermountain Health, Delta and Goldman Sachs.
Most job sectors held steady between April 2023 and 2024. Only education and health services and the government increased measurably, and losses were contained to financial services and leisure and hospitality, each of which contracted by less than 1%. The stable market kept unemployment rates at 2.7% — well below the U.S. average — boding well for future job opportunities.
Salt Lake City’s Cost of Living Is Not Too High
While common household expenses like groceries, transportation, insurance, and housing are generally more expensive in the West than the national average, Salt Lake City’s cost of living seems almost modest compared to other major Western metros. That’s largely thanks to real estate prices in cities like San Francisco and Seattle, which have shot up astronomically.
Despite being nearly twice the national average, Salt Lake City’s median home value of $458,600 still pales in comparison to Seattle’s $879,900 average and San Fran’s sticker-shocking $1,348,700. Rental rates in Salt Lake are actually on par with national rates, averaging around $1,250/month, lower than San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and Reno — whose cost of living and demographics are most comparable to Salt Lake’s.
SLC Has Four Seasons for You
If you’re looking for a Western city with four true seasons, Salt Lake City surprisingly fits the bill. Despite being a mountain town, Salt Lake City is not a particularly snowy city. On average, Salt Lake sees 45” of annual snowfall — about the same as Milwaukee. That’s because the valley is shielded from the elements that cause the phenomenal precipitation to form at higher elevations on the slopes of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. But there are exceptions, and the 2022-23 season was one of them. 87.5” buried SLC in icy fluff, making the 28.3” that fell over the year 2023-24 look downright pitiful.
Summertime in Salt Lake might also surprise you. Although July and August will be reliably hot and dry in this desert-esque environment, with highs averaging in the 90s, the season is short-lived. June highs only average 84 F and by September, lows will be in the mid-50s.
In addition to snowfall, you can expect some rain every month, which is more than can be said for other arid Western valleys, like Las Vegas. Except for July and August, most months see over an inch of rain, with April living up to its showery reputation, reliably delivering more than 2”.
You’ll Find Your Neighborhood in SLC
Downtown Salt Lake City is a bustling, cosmopolitan area that caters to tourists and residents alike. Just a 15-minute drive from the airport, you’ll find major cultural attractions like the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Capital Theatre and Abravanel Hall, the home of the Utah Symphony. The famous Temple Square sits on the north side of downtown, and you’ll find the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Family History Library and Brigham Young Historic Park and Family Cemetery here. Though the Mormons may not partake of liquor, the capital is, by no means, a dry city, and you’ll find LGBTQI+ bars, like Why Kiki, which has a great silent disco, chichi places like Oquirrh, and elegant, laid-back wine bars like BTG.
Real estate downtown is a very mixed bag, from price to style to size. You’ll find teeny-tiny condos with a strong bachelor vibe and posh townhouses that make for excellent ski retreats. There are the occasional single-family residences, too, but these generally cost upwards of $1 million.
You’ll find more affordable homes in Central City, where it’s only a short walk to greenspaces like Liberty Park and breakfast joints like the Park Café, where you can go green and get the Trippy-Hippy Vegan Hash or extra meaty with the Huevos Mexicanos, scrambled with savory chorizo. Living downtown means you’ll have easy access to the fantastic farmer’s market, and you’ll never have to hunt for parking for events like the Utah Arts Festival, which happens each June.
If you want to live on the mountainside of the city, the Avenues is the place to be. This northeastern neighborhood sits between two trailheads — City Creek, which is great for jogging and biking, and the Valley View/Twin Peaks trail, a steeper and more rugged adventure. On the opposite side of the creek is Capitol Hill, where you’ll find the grand Utah State Capitol building. This neoclassical wonder is worth visiting for the ceiling mural in the rotunda alone, where serene clouds float across the azure dome, dotted with seagulls, the state bird.
Just northeast of the city center, the University District is a collegiate hub for The U and a great destination for the arts and the outdoors. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is part of the University of Utah campus, and you’ll likely take in a basketball game or a gymnastics tournament since the Huntsmen Center is just around the corner. At the base of the mountains, the Red Butte Garden has gorgeous botanicals and a great amphitheater for concerts, and the Natural History Museum of Utah is right next door. From the museum grounds, you can easily hop on the Bonneville Shoreline trail.
Southeast of the city, the historic Sugar House area has seen some ups and downs over the years, but the district is experiencing a moment. With soaring mountain views, Sugar House’s cool shops and restaurants draw visitors from miles around. You’ll find good deals on your favorite big brands at the Patagonia and Sundance Catalog outlets, but there are great boutiques, too, like Unhinged, which sells cheeky wares made by local artists and designers. The area has such cachet that it’s even lent its name to a literary magazine, the Sugar House Review. Pick up a copy at our favorite indie bookseller, the Central Book Exchange. You’ll find lots of charming single families in this popular area, most on the smaller side, under 1,800 square feet. Apart from the few condominiums in Sugar House, which mostly stay under the $400,000 mark, you can expect to pay upwards of $500K, and more than $1 million for anything over 2,100 square feet.
The City Is an Outdoor Paradise All Year Around
Few major cities in the country offer easier access to nature. 13 national parks are within a 3-4-hour drive of SLC including Zion, Arches and Bryce Canyon, as well as Grand Teton in Idaho. Learn more about National Parks of the Southwest.
Of course, the main natural attraction here is the Great Salt Lake itself. Brinier than the ocean, swimmers will feel extra buoyant in these inland waters, where you’ll see kayakers, birders and mountain bikers. Camping is permitted on the beaches, but if you want to get the best view, hike to the top of Antelope Island State Park. In the fall, check out the annual bison roundup, or tour the island the easy way, on an e-bike.
On the northeastern shores of the lake, you’ll find land artist Robert Smithson’s famous Spiral Jetty, a 1500-foot coil formed with thousands of tons of native black basalt and earth. Travel to the opposite side of the Great Salt Lake, and you’ll find Sun Tunnels, the iconic work made by Smithson’s wife, Nancy Holt.
Salt Lake City is a paradise for mountaineers. In the summer months, you can disappear up the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains for an easy day hike or hide out on a multi-day camping trip to escape the heat. In the winter, SLC will be hopping with snow bunnies, eager to hit the slopes in the resort city of Park City. Snowbird’s Octoberfest kicks off the fall season early — in August — with beer tents, grueling mountain racing, and rides down the thrilling mountain coaster.
If you want to escape the crowds, rent a Yurt in the Ashley National Forest. This gorgeous area with an alpine lake stretches for hundreds of thousands of acres into the Uinta Mountains. Pack your gear and ski in for a screen-free winter getaway where the wood-burning stove will keep you cozy after a day of snow tubing.
Other Attractions for Everyone
Founded as a Mormon refuge by Brigham Young in 1847, Salt Lake City is the global epicenter of the LDS Church, and Temple Square is the church’s headquarters. Anchored by its lavish house of worship, Temple Square also contains the Church History Museum, the FamilySearch Center for genealogical research, the historic Beehive House, where Young and his large family once resided, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle, which has an 11,623-pipe organ. Many buildings are currently under construction, so be sure to check their hours before visiting.
One of the favorite annual traditions in Salt Lake is Pioneer Day. Residents line the streets for the Days of ’47 Parade — 19th-century attire recommended — and whoop it up at the Pioneer Day Rodeo. At the Heritage Festival, crowd-pleasers like pony rides, Flavor Burst soft serve and Brigham’s Donuts are just some of the things kids look forward to most.
Salt Lake also has wonderful secular attractions for families. The Hogle Zoo’s newest exhibit, Wild Utah, focuses on native UT species, like bighorn sheep, bobcats, cougars, flying squirrels and porcupines. The Great Salt Lake doesn’t offer much in terms of aquatic life, but the Loveland Living Aquarium makes up for that. You can meet sea turtles, sharks and penguins, or book an appointment for a close encounter with a sting ray.
Salt Lake City is blessed with great art museums and a stellar performing arts scene, but it’s also just minutes away from a major cinematic hub: Sundance. This nonprofit foundation draws serious crowds of film buffs and aspiring moviemakers to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City each winter, and it’s still the gold standard for moving pictures in the country.
Prepare for Your Move to Salt Lake City
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