Salt Lake City at a glance
- Population: 209,593 — 1st in Utah, which has 255 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 199,708 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 4.9% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Utah places: 1st by size among 255 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 99% of Utah places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.7769, -111.9310 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: none within 120 miles of Salt Lake City.
- Smaller towns nearby: North Salt Lake, UT (5 mi); South Salt Lake, UT (5 mi); Woods Cross, UT (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Salt Lake City
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Utah lending rules that apply in Salt Lake City
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Salt Lake City: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lenders under the Utah Consumer Credit Code (Title 70C) must file a Consumer Credit Notification via NMLS Source says: Entities subject to the UCCC's notification requirement must file a Consumer Credit Notification (CCN) through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). | Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: The Department of Financial Institutions regulates 19 banks, 22 credit unions, 17 industrial banks and 1 trust company. | Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | No general cap — parties may agree to any rate; 10% per annum legal rate if no rate is specified (Utah Code § 15-1-1) Source says: The parties to a lawful written, verbal, or implied contract may agree upon any rate of interest for the contract | Utah State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; deferred deposit lenders must register with the Utah DFI (Utah Code Title 7, ch. 23) Source says: It is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of cashing checks or the business of deferred deposit lending in Utah | Utah State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Salt Lake City
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Salt Lake City:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Utah using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.