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MarketsUtahCedar CityCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Cedar City, UT

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Cedar City, UT

Cap Rate
3.03%
Median Price
$405K
Rent/Mo
$1,550
1% Rule
0.38%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Cedar City's price-to-income ratio is 7.3x — homes cost 7.3 times the local median household income of $55,575. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Cedar City (20% down at 7%) is approximately $2,693/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $3,020. The median rent of $1,550/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Cedar City is $55,575, with a population of 50,000 growing at 2% per year. Cedar City is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

The stretched affordability means strong rental demand, but tight margins require precision. Target below-median prices where rents are still strong, or use value-add strategies to force equity and improve cash flow.

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How Cedar City Compares

Cedar City vs Utah state average and national average across key investment metrics. Cedar City's cap rate is below both benchmarks — deal sourcing is critical here.

Metric
Cedar City
Utah Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
3.03%
2.38%
3.81%
Median Price
$405K
$559K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,550
$1,734
$1,524
Property Tax
0.57%
0.57%
1.08%
Vacancy
4.3%
4.3%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
2%/yr
2%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby West Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Cedar City, UT
3.0%
$405K
$1,550
0.57%
Fresno, CA
3.6%
$405K
$1,840
0.76%
Idaho Falls, ID
2.5%
$405K
$1,410
0.64%
Albany, OR
2.8%
$405K
$1,600
0.94%
Walla Walla, WA
2.6%
$405K
$1,540
0.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cedar City affordable for renters?
Renters in Cedar City spend approximately 33% of median household income on rent. This exceeds the 30% affordability threshold, meaning housing costs are stretched relative to local incomes. The median household income is $55,575, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Cedar City?
Cedar City's price-to-income ratio is 7.3x, meaning homes cost 7.3 times the local median income. This is elevated — most residents find buying difficult, supporting deep rental demand.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cedar City?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $405K home is approximately $2,155/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $2,482/mo. The median rent of $1,550/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Cedar City's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Cedar City ($405K) are 21% above the national average. Rents ($1,550/mo) are 2% above average. Property taxes (0.57%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full Cedar City Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Cedar City & Related Markets

More Cedar City Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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