Cost of living in Lexington, KY Livability score 72 · cost-of-living index 92.5 (US = 100)
How Lexington compares Where Lexington falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $328k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $328k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $173 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $173 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.83% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.83% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 260 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 260 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 26° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 26° Map of Lexington Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 92.5 #66 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.4 #49 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.26 #64 of 200 Median household income $68,089 #118 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,896 #129 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.70% #68 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.0% #118 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $327,671 #90 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× #102 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.7% #65 of 200 Price per square foot $173 #83 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,900 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,528 #87 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,712 Median days on market 8 #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.6% #68 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.00% Capital gains tax 4.00% #76 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.83% #92 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,973 #63 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 #17 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 #25 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $120 #101 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.44% of value (~$403/yr) #159 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 17 Avg commute to work 22 min #35 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 15.0¢/kWh #38 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $135 #38 of 200 Gasoline $3.10/gal #50 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,200 #129 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,200 #152 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $250 #141 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 43 #70 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,300 #107 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,400 #108 of 200 Avg summer high 88°F #98 of 200 Avg winter low 26°F #119 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 260 #15 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,700 #47 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 24 #150 of 200 Parks 24 Hiking areas 14 Golf courses 11 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.