How much does assisted living cost in Utah?

Most families start with one blunt question: what is this going to cost each month? For Utah, the most recent statewide median is $5,475 a month for a private one-bedroom apartment in assisted living, according to CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey. Your loved one’s bill could land well above or below that, and the reasons are worth knowing before you compare communities.

Average cost of assisted living in Utah

CareScout (formerly the Genworth Cost of Care Survey) collected these rates from providers between July and November 2025. A median is the middle price: half of communities charge more, half charge less.

Two honest notes about these numbers. First, Utah prices jumped sharply between the two surveys, so a quote from a few years ago is probably stale. Second, CareScout’s own Utah press release lists a slightly lower yearly figure ($62,790) than its data tables do. We show the data-table number, but either way the picture is the same: Utah remains below the national median, and costs are climbing.

Cost of assisted living in Salt Lake City, Ogden and other areas

People often search for prices in Salt Lake City or St. George specifically. CareScout gathers its data by metro area but publishes only statewide medians for Utah, so we do not have a reliable city-by-city figure to give you. What we can say is that two buildings a few miles apart can differ by more than a thousand dollars a month, so the statewide number is a starting point for your budget, not a quote.

What drives the price up or down

• Apartment size. A studio or shared room costs less than a one-bedroom; a two-bedroom for a couple costs more.
• Level of care. Many communities charge base rent plus a monthly care fee set by an assessment. Help with bathing, dressing, medications or getting around raises that fee, and it can rise again as needs grow.
• Building age and amenities. Newer buildings with restaurant-style dining and more common space usually charge more.
• One-time fees. Some communities charge a community or move-in fee. Ask whether any part is refundable.
• Second person fees. A spouse sharing the apartment usually adds a monthly charge, higher if they also need care.

Type I vs. Type II assisted living in Utah

Utah licenses assisted living in two types, and the difference shows up in who can live there and, often, what it costs.

Because Type II communities are staffed for heavier care, their care fees tend to run higher. A person who needs a Type II setting today may not be a fit for a Type I building, however affordable it looks.

How assisted living compares with other Utah care costs

Families often weigh assisted living against staying home with help or moving to a nursing home. Here are the 2025 Utah monthly medians side by side, all from the same CareScout survey:

For someone who needs help spread across the day and night, assisted living often costs less than paying for the same hours at home. Our Utah in-home care cost guide runs those numbers.

Ways Utah families pay for it

Medicare does not pay assisted living rent or personal care. Medicare.gov is plain about this: it does not cover long-term custodial care. Families usually combine:

• Income and savings, including Social Security, pensions and the sale or rental of a home.
• A long-term care insurance policy, if one exists. See our guide to long-term care insurance claims.
• VA pension with Aid and Attendance for eligible veterans and surviving spouses.
• Utah Medicaid’s New Choices Waiver, which can pay for care services, not room and board, for people who meet strict rules. Read our New Choices Waiver guide before counting on it.

For a wider look at these options, see how families pay for assisted living.

Questions to ask about price

• What exactly is in the base rate, and what costs extra (medication help, laundry, transportation, incontinence care)?
• How is the care level decided, how often is it reassessed, and how much notice do you give before a care fee goes up?
• What were your annual rate increases for the past three years?
• Are you licensed Type I or Type II, and at what point would my loved one need to move?
• Do you accept New Choices Waiver residents, and what happens if private funds run out?

Common questions

What is the average cost of assisted living in Utah per month?

The 2025 CareScout median for Utah is $5,475 a month for a private one-bedroom. Expect care fees on top of base rent at many communities.

Is assisted living cheaper in Utah than nationally?

Yes, by the survey numbers. The 2025 national median was $6,200 a month, about $725 more than Utah’s.

Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Utah?

Only in limited cases, through the New Choices Waiver, and generally only for care services. The resident still pays for room and board.

Why did my quote come in higher than the average?

Usually because of care level, apartment size or a newer building. Ask for the quote broken into rent and care so you can compare communities fairly.