Cost of LivingUpdated 2026-11-11

Frankfort, Kentucky

Living in Frankfort, Kentucky is about 20% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 80 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,039 a month, 46% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.72 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 36% of the area's $66,470 median household income.

Key Numbers

Gas (Regular)

$3.72

National: $3.98

↑ 197.4%since 2000
βœ“ AAA Gas Prices

Avg Rent (All)

$1,039

National: $1,932

↑ 32.7%since 2021
βœ“ Zillow ZORI Frankfort, KY metro (2026-09)

Grocery Inflation

1.77%

Year-over-year

βœ“ BLS/FRED CPI

Fast Food Avg

$11.00

Combo meal

↑ 4.6%YoY

Electricity

13.8Β’

per kWh Β· ~$124/mo

↓ 25.2%vs US avg
βœ“ EIA Residential

Car Insurance

$190/mo

$2,280/yr

↑ 6.0%vs national avg
βœ“ Bankrate/NAIC

Median Household Income

$66,470

36.1% goes to essentials

↓ 36.1%cost burden
βœ“ Census ACS 2023
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Car Insurance

Avg $2,280 in Frankfort. Compare rates:

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Find Apartments

Avg rent $1,039/mo in Frankfort. Browse listings:

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Grocery Prices

Grocery Prices β€” 2000 to Present

National BLS averages Β· submit local prices below ↓

Eggs (dozen)

Bird flu volatility

$0.97 in 2000 β†’ $2.32 BLS avg

$1.89 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+137.9%

Milk (gallon)

$2.79 in 2000 β†’ $4.10 BLS avg

$3.09 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+47.3%

Ground Beef (lb)

$1.48 in 2000 β†’ $6.75 BLS avg

$6.65 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+355.5%

Bread (loaf)

$0.91 in 2000 β†’ $1.86 BLS avg

$3.99 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+105.2%

Chicken Breast (lb)

$1.06 in 2000 β†’ $2.03 BLS avg

$5.31 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+91.3%

Butter (lb)

$3.98 BLS avg

$4.89 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

-4.2% since 2018

Bacon (lb)

$2.75 in 2000 β†’ $6.69 BLS avg

$5.99 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+143.1%

Cheddar Cheese (lb)

$3.84 in 2000 β†’ $6.13 BLS avg

$5.78 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+59.6%

Pasta (lb)

$0.88 in 2000 β†’ $1.38 BLS avg

$1.89 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+57.1%

Rice (5 lb)

$2.50 in 2000 β†’ $5.50 BLS avg

$8.89 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+120.6%

Coffee (12 oz)

$2.65 in 2000 β†’ $6.94 BLS avg

$8.19 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+161.3%

Orange Juice (64 oz)

Citrus shortage

$4.72 estimate

+41.3% since 2022

Potatoes (5 lb)

$1.96 in 2000 β†’ $4.95 BLS avg

$3.29 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+152.6%

Apples (3 lb)

$4.54 estimate

$3.59 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+15.8% since 2022

Tomatoes (lb)

$1.44 in 2000 β†’ $2.08 BLS avg

$1.29 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+44.4%

Lettuce (head)

$0.75 in 2000 β†’ $1.96 BLS avg

$3.49 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+162.3%

Cooking Oil (48 oz)

$7.20 estimate

$3.89 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+43.1% since 2022

Yogurt (32 oz)

$4.10 estimate

$5.99 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+13.3% since 2022

Cereal (family size)

$5.74 estimate

$5.00 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+33.2% since 2022

Frozen Pizza

$7.94 estimate

$5.99 @ Kroger - Brighton Park (Nov 2026)

+44.1% since 2022

Dining & Restaurants

Fast Food Meal

$11.00

Casual Dining

$14.21

Monthly Spend

$246.59

+4.6% YoY

Chain Restaurant Meal Prices β€” 2022 vs. Today

Combo meal / typical order for one

McDonald's

2022: $5.08

$8.20

+61.4%

Wendy's

2022: $5.74

$8.86

+54.4%

Chipotle

2022: $6.15

$9.18

+49.3%

Starbucks

2022: $2.91

$4.04

+38.8%

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Looking for an Apartment in Frankfort?

Average 1BR: $852/mo Β· 2BR: $1,226/mo

Browse Frankfort Apartments β†’

Local Workforce

2024 Β· BLS QCEW

Total Jobs

35k

Median Weekly Pay

$1,157

$60k/yr

Top Sector

Professional & Business Services

Household vs Worker Pay

$66k

household median

Employment by Sector β€” Frankfort

% of local workforce Β· avg weekly wage Β· 5-year growth trend

Professional & Business Services
+81.6% 5yr$1,243/wk
17.0%

~$65k/yr

Trade, Transportation & Utilities
+10.9% 5yr$1,074/wk
10.2%

~$56k/yr

Construction
+14.0% 5yr$1,324/wk
9.7%

~$69k/yr

Education & Health Services
-15.6% 5yr$1,040/wk
8.7%

~$54k/yr

Leisure & Hospitality
-8.5% 5yr$436/wk
7.6%

~$23k/yr

Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual Β· County FIPS 21073

Highest Paying Sector

Financial Activities

$1,430/wk Β· $74k/yr

Most Workers (lowest wage)

Leisure & Hospitality

$436/wk Β· $23k/yr

Frankfort Cost of Living FAQ

Is Frankfort, KY expensive to live in?

Frankfort has a cost of living index of 80, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 20% cheaper than average. It is the most affordable of the 9 Kentucky cities we track.

What is the average rent in Frankfort, KY?

Typical rent in Frankfort is $1,039 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 46% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $852 and two bedrooms about $1,226. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.

Is rent going up in Frankfort?

Rent in Frankfort rose 1.3% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.

How much is gas in Frankfort?

Regular unleaded costs about $3.72 a gallon in Frankfort as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Kentucky. That is 7% below the national average of $3.98.

How much is electricity in Frankfort?

Homes in Kentucky pay an average of 13.8 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Frankfort is about $124.

How much is car insurance in Frankfort?

Full coverage car insurance averages $2,280 a year in Kentucky, or about $190 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.

How much do you need to live in Frankfort?

Median household income in the Frankfort area is $66,470 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $23,971 a year, or 36% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).

How does Frankfort compare with the rest of Kentucky?

Rent in Frankfort is 15% below the $1,223 average across the 9 Kentucky cities we track, and its cost of living index of 80 compares with a state average of 87.

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