Cost of Living in Moab
Moab runs genuinely expensive for housing relative to its small size and tourism-dominated wage base, layered with Utah's low, flat 4.45% state income tax and Grand County's comparatively higher property tax rate.
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Learn moreHousing costs carry a real, disclosed spread and a real affordability strain
Zillow's average home value ran $563,074 (down 0.8% year-over-year), Movoto's April 2026 median sold price ran $669,000, and a separate WalletInvestor citation ran lower at $547,205 -- a real spread disclosed rather than reconciled. An estimated $121,000 in annual income is needed to comfortably afford the May 2026 median listing.
Grand County's property tax rate runs above the Utah median
Grand County's effective property tax rate runs a real, disclosed 0.93% -- above the Utah statewide median of 0.55% and the highest county rate in this Tier B batch -- producing a median annual bill of $4,752 on a median home value of $475,396.
Utah's flat 4.45% income tax and Moab's comparatively high 8.85% combined sales tax
Utah's flat 4.45% state income tax (2026) applies statewide, not specifically to Moab. Moab's combined sales tax runs 8.85% -- including a real, current 1.60% Resort Community Tax effective April 1, 2026 -- genuinely higher than most other markets in this Utah batch.
A real, documented short-term-rental effect on cost of living
AirDNA cites Moab short-term rentals averaging 56% occupancy and $45,838 in average monthly revenue -- a real, disclosed driver of local housing-cost pressure that local reporting (Moab Sun News, Utah News Dispatch) has covered specifically for Moab.
Key takeaways
- Moab's housing figures carry a real, disclosed spread ($547,205-$669,000) -- confirm current listings directly.
- Grand County's 0.93% effective property tax rate runs above the Utah statewide median (0.55%) and above every other county in this batch.
- Moab's combined 8.85% sales tax includes a real, current 1.60% Resort Community Tax.
- Short-term-rental pressure is a real, documented driver of Moab's housing-affordability strain.
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