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Cost of Living · Kentucky

Louisville Cost of Living

Louisville, Kentucky costs approximately 10.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.90×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Louisville ranks 2 of 2 cities in Kentucky by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Louisville (88)
San Francisco, CA
+61.1% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+50.0% more expensive
New York City, NY
+46.7% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+44.4% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+44.4% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+35.6% more expensive
Boston, MA
+35.6% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+34.4% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+33.3% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+33.3% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+31.1% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+31.1% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+31.1% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+31.1% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+27.8% more expensive
Miami, FL
+24.4% more expensive
Portland, OR
+22.2% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+22.2% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+22.2% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+22.2% more expensive
Denver, CO
+20.0% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+16.7% more expensive
Austin, TX
+16.7% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+16.7% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+16.7% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+16.7% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+16.7% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+16.7% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+15.6% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+15.6% more expensive
Plano, TX
+15.6% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+15.6% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+13.3% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+13.3% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+13.3% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+13.3% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+13.3% more expensive
Reno, NV
+13.3% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+13.3% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+13.3% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+13.3% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+12.2% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+11.1% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+11.1% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+11.1% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+11.1% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+11.1% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+11.1% more expensive
Boise, ID
+11.1% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+11.1% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+11.1% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+10.0% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+10.0% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+10.0% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+10.0% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+10.0% more expensive
Madison, WI
+10.0% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+8.9% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+7.8% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+7.8% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+7.8% more expensive
Houston, TX
+6.7% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+6.7% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+6.7% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+6.7% more expensive
Garland, TX
+6.7% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+6.7% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+5.6% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+5.6% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+5.6% more expensive
Milwaukee, WI
+4.4% more expensive
Albuquerque, NM
+4.4% more expensive
New Orleans, LA
+4.4% more expensive
San Antonio, TX
+3.3% more expensive
Grand Rapids, MI
+3.3% more expensive
Columbus, OH
+2.2% more expensive
Detroit, MI
+2.2% more expensive
Cincinnati, OH
+2.2% more expensive
Kansas City, MO
+2.2% more expensive
Lexington, KY
+2.2% more expensive
Corpus Christi, TX
+2.2% more expensive
Buffalo, NY
+2.2% more expensive
Greensboro, NC
+2.2% more expensive
Knoxville, TN
+2.2% more expensive
El Paso, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Cleveland, OH
+1.1% more expensive
St. Louis, MO
+1.1% more expensive
Winston-Salem, NC
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Louisville (9)
Memphis, TN
−1.1% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−1.1% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−1.1% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−2.2% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−2.2% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−2.2% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−4.4% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−4.4% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−4.4% cheaper

What living in Louisville costs

Louisville runs at 0.90x the US national average — 88 of the 99 other metros tracked here cost more, 9 cost less. A one-bedroom goes for about $1,050 a month, or $12,600 a year, and the median home sits near $255,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 20, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Louisville is a metro of roughly 1.4M and roughly flat, running on logistics/air cargo, healthcare, bourbon & food manufacturing. Larger employers include UPS (Worldport hub), Ford, Humana.

Two tax details that change take-home here: Louisville levies a local income tax of about 2.20% on top of state and federal — roughly $2,200 a year on a $100,000 salary — and Kentucky taxes income as well.

Getting around: Louisville is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Humid continental climate: January lows near 28°F, July highs near 89°F with high humidity.

Louisville Metro levies a ~2.2% occupational license (payroll) tax on wages, stacked on top of Kentucky's flat state income tax; UPS's Worldport air hub drives large overnight-shift employment.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Louisville expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, no — the cost index is 0.90x, above 9 and below 88 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,050 a month and the median home $255,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Louisville?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,050 a month implies about $42,000 a year for a one-bedroom, before accounting for the 2.20% local income tax. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.