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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Kentucky using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Louisv…
#1 Ranked: Louisville — cost index 94, rent $1,352/mo, income $64,731
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Louisville | 4% | 6% | 0.78% | $44,757 |
2Lexington | 4% | 6% | 0.78% | $44,757 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Kentucky using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Louisville comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The #1 spot goes to Louisville, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,352/month — saving renters $6,516 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 84, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 96. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
What's equally notable: The 2 cities we track in Kentucky paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 96. Median rent: $1,420/month. Household income: $66,181. Kentucky is known for Appalachian value and bourbon country charm — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | $1,352 | 27% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | Lexington | $1,487 | 30% | 98 | Details |
622,981 residents · Kentucky
Louisville earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $64,731 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $259,139 — $208,231 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 96.
320,154 residents · Kentucky
Lexington is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,487/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 98. Income sits at $67,631. That's more or less in line with the region.
Louisville ranks #1 in Kentucky for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $64,731.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Louisville, rent would consume about 27% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Louisville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,352/mo, while Lexington (ranked #2) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,487/mo — a 4-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Louisville is $1,352/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $543 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4% state income tax, estimated take-home on $60K in Louisville is approximately $44,757/year ($3,730/month). After median rent of $1,352/month, you'd have roughly $28,533/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Louisville is $259,139, which is 4.0× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Kentucky has a 4% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.78%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.