BUSINESS + ECONOMY

Utahns are paying more money for transportation and rent than almost all other states

Jul 13, 2022, 12:46 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2022, 10:38 am

Traffic moves alone an interstate. Transportation costs eat up Utahn's paycheck according to new da...

Traffic moves along I-15 during rush hour in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 1, 2022. Photo credit: Mengshin Lin/Deseret News.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah residents are forking out nearly $3,000 per year to get to where they want to go, according to new data from the medical website NiceRX.

In fact, the Beehive State ranks the fourth highest in transportation costs. 

NiceRX calculated that yearly costs for vehicles and transportation services add up to $2,994.84 for Utahns. And found that the average annual income for Utah is $55,392. 

Based on those numbers, 5.41% of Utahns’ annual income is used for transportation.

Utah also ranked as the seventh highest in the nation for paying rent, compared to their annual income. Nice RX calculated that Utahns spent $18,312 annually on rent, which was about 33% of their income.  Hawaii topped the list at 49% of average income going toward housing.

The research from NiceRX details how Americans are spending their money on everything from health insurance to shoes and clothing and then compares it to the average annual income per state to get their numbers.

The data shows childcare and rent take up the majority of living expenses across the nation. Those expenses average almost $45,500 each year when combined, which is just over 46% of the average annual income.

Related: With rise of gas prices, here are some tips to make fuel last longer

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Utahns are paying more money for transportation and rent than almost all other states