Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Provo, UT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.2% of gross income.

Provo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Utah state estimate).

Provo median rent
$1,556/mo
Police Officer salary (Utah)
$74,179/yr
Rent as % of income
25.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,854/mo in rent. Provo's median rent of $1,556 leaves roughly $298/mo of headroom under that threshold. A police officer works roughly 43.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a police officer salary

The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Utah cities have lower median rent than Provo, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Roy, UT
$1,555/mo (25.2% of income)
Salt Lake City, UT
$1,554/mo (25.1% of income)
West Valley City, UT
$1,550/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Provo

View full rent data for Provo, UT

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Provo, UT?

Median rent in Provo is $1,556 a month. A typical police officer in Utah earns about $74,179 a year, which makes that rent 25.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Provo?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Utah (~$74,179/yr) supports up to $1,854 a month in rent. Provo's current median rent is $1,556/mo, which leaves a $298/mo buffer.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Provo?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Utah works roughly 43.6 hours a month to cover Provo's median rent of $1,556.

Where is rent cheaper than Provo for a police officer?

Nearby Utah cities with lower median rent include Roy ($1,555/mo), Salt Lake City ($1,554/mo), West Valley City ($1,550/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Utah state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Provo, UT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.