Salt Lake City is an interesting paradox. It’s a place where people move for the mountains, stay for the friendliness, and then slowly realize that the cost of living has started creeping toward coastal levels. Rent prices have been steadily rising, and finding an affordable place that won’t require splitting a one-bedroom with six roommates is becoming more of a challenge. Fortunately, several affordable Salt Lake City suburbs still offer lower rents, more space, and at least a fighting chance of affording your weekend ski trips.
Salt Lake City’s housing market at a glance
Salt Lake City’s housing market isn’t the worst in the country, but it’s definitely not as affordable as it used to be. Luckily, several nearby suburbs offer an escape from the city’s rising costs. Here’s a quick look at Salt Lake City’s current housing prices before diving into nine of the most affordable Salt Lake City suburbs for renters in 2025.
| Average 1-bedroom rent in Salt Lake City | $1,449 |
| Average 2-bedroom rent in Salt Lake City | $1,827 |
| Median home price in Salt Lake City | $525,000 |
1. Magna
A place where you can live near the Great Salt Lake and spend your weekends wondering why nobody told you it smells like that.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,149
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 15 miles west
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 20 minutes
Coming in at $1,149 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Magna is the last place in the Salt Lake metro area where you can still rent an apartment without questioning your life choices. Sitting just west of the city, Magna gives you easy access to the Great Salt Lake State Park, where you can look out at the surreal landscape. The Empress Theatre hosts live performances in a historic setting, while Magna Copper Park provides enough open space to make you forget you’re still within city limits. Housing in Magna is a mix of budget-friendly apartments, older single-family homes, and places where you might actually have a yard big enough for a dog.
2. Roy
A suburb where your choices include exploring local history, hitting up the skate park, or embracing your inner child at the water park.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,235
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 32 miles north
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 35 minutes
With an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,235 per month, Roy is ideal for people who want suburban life but still need access to an actual city. George E. Wahlen North Park has soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and a surprisingly popular skate park. If summer hits and you don’t feel like driving to a mountain lake, the Roy Aquatic Center has water slides, pools and great vibes. Housing options range from affordable apartments to mid-century homes that somehow still have reasonable prices.
3. Midvale
A town where you can catch a play, hit the gym, and walk scenic trails—all while paying significantly less than your friends living in Salt Lake City.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,249
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 12 miles south
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 15 minutes
With an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,249 per month, Midvale is a great spot to settle down. The Copperview Recreation Center has everything from basketball courts to Zumba classes if you ever feel the need to be active. The Bingham Junction Park is great for families, dogs, or just soaking up the sun. Housing in Midvale consists of affordable apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes that won’t force you to consider a second job.
4. Taylorsville
A suburb where you can take in local history, enjoy a day at the park, and still afford rent without selling off all the family heirlooms.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,301
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 10 miles southwest
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 15 minutes
At $1,301 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Taylorsville is a solid pick if you want suburban convenience without the sticker shock of some nearby cities. The Taylorsville Recreation Center is equipped with fitness equipment and a swimming pool so you can workout comfortably in the dead of winter. Millrace Park has a beautiful pond and walking trails that make for a decent morning jog if you’re feeling ambitious.
5. West Jordan
A place where you can shop, hike, and take a crash course in water-wise gardening—because yes, the desert is still a desert.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,309
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 15 miles southwest
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 20 minutes
With an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,309 per month, West Jordan is where you go when you want shopping, parks, and some stunning scenery. Gardner Village is an old-timey shopping area with boutique stores and enough charm to make you forget how much you just spent. Conservation Garden Park is perfect if you like your time outside to come with an educational twist, while Veterans Memorial Park provides wide-open space for whatever weekend activity you can come up with.
6. Layton
A city where you can hike to a waterfall, visit an aquarium, and then wonder why so many people in a landlocked state like Utah are obsessed with aquariums.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,312
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 25 miles north
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 30 minutes
At $1,312 per month for a 1-bedroom, Layton is for people who like the mountains but don’t want to pay Park City prices. Adams Canyon Trail is one of the best hikes in the area, ending in a scenic waterfall that makes the climb worth it. SeaQuest Utah is an interactive aquarium where you can feed stingrays, which is probably a better weekend plan than scrolling Redfin listings you can’t afford.
7. Tooele
A town where you can golf, learn about mining history, or just enjoy the fact that you’re living in the one suburb nobody can pronounce correctly.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,324
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 35 miles west
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 40 minutes
Coming in at $1,324 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Tooele is where you live when you want space without spending your life savings. The Tooele Valley Museum has mining and railroad history exhibits that make you appreciate how easy modern life actually is. The Peak Sports and Entertainment Complex hosts sports facilities and community events that make you feel like you’ve found your people. Housing is a mix of affordable rentals, new developments, and single-family homes with actual yards.
8. Pleasant Grove
A suburb with so many parks, historic districts, and scenic hikes that you might actually feel bad about spending your weekends on the couch.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,332
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 37 miles south
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 40 minutes
With an average monthly rent of $1,332 for a 1-bedroom, Pleasant Grove is for people who like their suburbs scenic and their nights quiet. Hiking Battle Creek Falls rewards you with a stunning waterfall, while Discovery Park is basically Disneyland for kids—except free. The Pleasant Grove Historic District gives the area some charm, with well-preserved 19th-century buildings and small-town vibes.
9. Draper
A place where you can admire exotic fish, stroll through a historic museum, and still have time to wonder why your rent isn’t more expensive.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,392
- Distance from Salt Lake City: 20 miles south
- Drive time to Salt Lake City: About 25 minutes
Rounding out our list at $1,392 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Draper is where you live when you want to feel like you made it, but still want reasonable rent. The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a surprisingly great place to visit when you need to escape the desert. Draper City Park gives you open space and a playground to tire out the kids before heading home for dinner.
See yourself in an affordable Salt Lake City suburb
Finding affordable Salt Lake City suburbs isn’t impossible—you just have to decide how much space, nature, or entertainment you need. If you want the lowest rent possible, Magna is your best bet. If you like scenic hikes and quiet streets, Pleasant Grove is a solid pick. And if you want suburban amenities without fully abandoning city life, West Jordan delivers.
Regardless of where you wind up, these suburbs prove you can live near Salt Lake City without needing a tech CEO’s salary.
Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s one-bedroom rent was less than Salt Lake City’s average rent and under 40 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. Average rental data from Salt Lake City rental market trends in February, 2025. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
