Louisville vs Lexington
Louisville, KY · Lexington, KY
Louisville is 3% cheaper than Lexington overall.
Home Price
Louisville: $235,000
Lexington: $265,000
Monthly Rent
Louisville: $895/mo
Lexington: $925/mo
COL Index
Louisville: 87
Lexington: 90
Median Income
Louisville: $59,600
Lexington: $61,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Louisville has the same purchasing power as $103,448 in Lexington — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Lexington are 13% cheaper (-$30,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Louisville saves you $30/month — $360 per year. Median rent: $895/mo in Louisville vs $925/mo in Lexington.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Louisville owners pay roughly $1,951/year in property taxes vs $2,200/year in Lexington. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $59,600 in Louisville and $61,200 in Lexington. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 23 minutes in Louisville vs 22 minutes in Lexington. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Louisville to Lexington, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Louisville | Equivalent in Lexington | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $51,724 | +$1,724 |
| $75,000 | $77,586 | +$2,586 |
| $100,000 | $103,448 | +$3,448 |
| $150,000 | $155,172 | +$5,172 |
| $200,000 | $206,897 | +$6,897 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Louisville Calculators
Lexington Calculators
Related Comparisons
Louisville vs Lexington: Common Questions
Is Louisville or Lexington cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Louisville is cheaper overall. Louisville has a COL index of 87 while Lexington scores 90 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Louisville and Lexington?
The median home price in Louisville is $235,000 vs $265,000 in Lexington — a difference of $30,000 (13%).
What salary do I need in Lexington to match my Louisville income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Louisville is equivalent to $103,448 in Lexington in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Lexington has a lower property tax rate (0.83% vs 0.83%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $1,951/year vs $2,200/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.