Kentucky
KYSouth · 9 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Kentucky is cheaper than the national average. Across the 9 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 87 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,223 a month, 37% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.72
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,223
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
87
vs. 100 national avg
Kentucky Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest cost pressure in Kentucky is car insurance, at 6% above the national average. The biggest break is rent, at 37% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 2.5% over the past year across the 9 cities we track, about in line with the 2.7% national change. Paducah saw the biggest move (up 8.4%), while London was up just 0.0%.
City to city
Where you live inside Kentucky matters. Typical rent runs from $1,039 in Frankfort to $1,599 in Lexington, a gap of $560 a month or about $6,720 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 42% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks near the middle of 51 states. Median household income there averages $62,616 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.72 a gallon, 7% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $124 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $2,280 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the South rose 1.7% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Kentucky
Frankfort
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,039
Food ↑
+1.8%
Louisville
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,339
Food ↑
+1.8%
Lexington
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,599
Food ↑
+1.8%
Bowling Green
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,215
Food ↑
+1.8%
Elizabethtown
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,297
Food ↑
+1.8%
London
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,067
Food ↑
+1.8%
Owensboro
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,236
Food ↑
+1.8%
Richmond
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,062
Food ↑
+1.8%
Paducah
Kentucky
Gas
$3.72
Rent
$1,151
Food ↑
+1.8%
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 120 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Oldham County | $121,491 |
| 2Spencer County | $98,333 |
| 3Boone County | $94,752 |
| 4Scott County | $83,660 |
| 5Shelby County | $82,671 |
| 6Woodford County | $80,006 |
| 7Kenton County | $79,421 |
| 8Bullitt County | $77,640 |
| 9Campbell County | $77,271 |
| 10Jessamine County | $74,886 |
| 11Anderson County | $71,747 |
| 12McLean County | $70,549 |
| 13Meade County | $70,163 |
| 14Grant County | $67,940 |
| 15Nelson County | $67,888 |
| 16Jefferson County | $67,849 |
| 17Clark County | $67,824 |
| 18Trimble County | $67,813 |
| 19Larue County | $67,770 |
| 20Fayette County | $67,631 |
| 21Hardin County | $67,608 |
| 22Hancock County | $66,836 |
| 23Pendleton County | $66,601 |
| 24Franklin County | $66,470 |
| 25Daviess County | $65,323 |
| 26Warren County | $64,801 |
| 27Ballard County | $64,740 |
| 28Lyon County | $64,464 |
| 29Hickman County | $63,750 |
| 30Marshall County | $63,611 |
| 31Harrison County | $63,205 |
| 32Mercer County | $63,115 |
| 33Garrard County | $62,572 |
| 34Madison County | $62,407 |
| 35McCracken County | $62,385 |
| 36Gallatin County | $62,247 |
| 37Carlisle County | $62,019 |
| 38Taylor County | $61,871 |
| 39Boyle County | $61,635 |
| 40Logan County | $61,535 |
| 41Union County | $60,989 |
| 42Henry County | $60,736 |
| 43Boyd County | $60,659 |
| 44Washington County | $59,762 |
| 45Livingston County | $59,713 |
| 46Owen County | $59,706 |
| 47Greenup County | $59,613 |
| 48Bracken County | $59,521 |
| 49Allen County | $59,029 |
| 50Webster County | $58,786 |
| 51Henderson County | $58,239 |
| 52Todd County | $57,759 |
| 53Carroll County | $57,753 |
| 54Caldwell County | $57,618 |
| 55Hopkins County | $57,610 |
| 56Montgomery County | $57,468 |
| 57Simpson County | $57,392 |
| 58Laurel County | $56,999 |
| 59Bourbon County | $56,322 |
| 60Marion County | $55,404 |
| 61Trigg County | $54,630 |
| 62Edmonson County | $54,512 |
| 63Ohio County | $54,369 |
| 64Christian County | $54,190 |
| 65Bath County | $54,128 |
| 66Breckinridge County | $53,673 |
| 67Rowan County | $53,657 |
| 68Nicholas County | $53,616 |
| 69Muhlenberg County | $52,672 |
| 70Robertson County | $52,337 |
| 71Butler County | $52,003 |
| 72Calloway County | $51,854 |
| 73Mason County | $51,473 |
| 74Pulaski County | $50,943 |
| 75Lincoln County | $50,862 |
| 76Graves County | $50,576 |
| 77Russell County | $50,520 |
| 78Carter County | $50,389 |
| 79Adair County | $50,316 |
| 80Grayson County | $49,893 |
| 81Fleming County | $49,663 |
| 82Hart County | $49,653 |
| 83Monroe County | $49,430 |
| 84Barren County | $49,171 |
| 85Metcalfe County | $48,572 |
| 86Rockcastle County | $48,367 |
| 87Morgan County | $47,493 |
| 88Crittenden County | $47,003 |
| 89Martin County | $46,185 |
| 90Lawrence County | $45,584 |
| 91Perry County | $45,261 |
| 92Menifee County | $44,672 |
| 93Estill County | $43,905 |
| 94Johnson County | $43,014 |
| 95Pike County | $42,179 |
| 96Clinton County | $42,168 |
| 97Wayne County | $41,933 |
| 98Whitley County | $41,719 |
| 99Casey County | $41,689 |
| 100Lewis County | $41,632 |
| 101Floyd County | $41,582 |
| 102Jackson County | $41,410 |
| 103Breathitt County | $41,101 |
| 104Green County | $41,087 |
| 105Letcher County | $40,501 |
| 106Leslie County | $40,176 |
| 107Elliott County | $40,074 |
| 108Powell County | $39,811 |
| 109Cumberland County | $39,662 |
| 110Clay County | $39,607 |
| 111Knott County | $37,736 |
| 112McCreary County | $37,355 |
| 113Harlan County | $37,198 |
| 114Fulton County | $36,834 |
| 115Lee County | $34,182 |
| 116Magoffin County | $33,632 |
| 117Knox County | $33,153 |
| 118Bell County | $32,403 |
| 119Owsley County | $31,064 |
| 120Wolfe County | $29,052 |
Kentucky Cost of Living FAQ
Is Kentucky expensive to live in?
Kentucky is about 13% cheaper than the national average. Across the 9 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 87, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Kentucky?
Typical rent in Kentucky averages $1,223 a month across the 9 cities we track as of September 2026, 37% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks the 5th lowest of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Kentucky?
Of the 9 cities we track in Kentucky, Frankfort has the lowest cost of living index at 80. It also has the lowest typical rent we track there, at $1,039 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Kentucky?
Richmond has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Kentucky, at 88. The highest typical rent is in Lexington, at $1,599 a month.
How much is gas in Kentucky?
Regular unleaded averages $3.72 a gallon in Kentucky as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 7% below the national average of $3.98. That is the 13th cheapest of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Kentucky?
Rent in Kentucky rose an average of 2.5% over the past year across the 9 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Kentucky?
Residential electricity in Kentucky averages 13.8 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $124.
How much is car insurance in Kentucky?
Full coverage car insurance in Kentucky averages $2,280 a year, or about $190 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is the 16th highest of 51 states.