Home › KY › Louisville, KY Cost of living in Louisville, KY Livability score 71 · cost-of-living index 93.2 (US = 100)
Photo: Charles Delano of LouisvilleUSACE - Louisville District of the US Army Corp of Engineers via Commons · CC BY 2.0 How Louisville compares Where Louisville 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: $350k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $350k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $200 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $200 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: 0.82% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.82% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 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 Louisville 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 Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.2 metro-area #75 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.3 metro-area #46 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.30 metro-area #74 of 200 Median household income $69,771 metro-area #106 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $41,335 metro-area #84 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.3 years metro-area #120 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.1% metro-area #109 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.7% metro-area #125 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 68.6% metro-area #63 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.66% metro-area #64 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +0.3% metro-area #164 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $350,000 metro-area #102 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.0× metro-area #117 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.0% metro-area #47 of 200 Price per square foot $200 metro-area #111 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,500 metro-area #77 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,000 Median days on market 35 metro-area #169 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.6% state #68 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.00% Capital gains tax 4.00% state #76 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.82% metro-area #90 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,822 metro-area #52 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 74.1 years metro-area #169 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 state #17 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 6.3% metro-area #42 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 70 metro-area #126 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 state #25 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $120 state #101 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.44% of value (~$403/yr) state #159 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #87 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.0% metro-area #112 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 31.3% metro-area #97 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 15.0¢/kWh state #38 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $135 state #38 of 200 Gasoline $3.10/gal state #50 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $70 state #98 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $81 state #48 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,200 state #129 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,200 state #152 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 83.0 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #49 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $250 state #141 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 51 metro-area #138 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,300 metro-area #107 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,400 metro-area #108 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 26 metro-area #96 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 88°F metro-area #98 of 200 Avg winter low 26°F metro-area #119 of 200 Annual precipitation 48.3" metro-area #148 of 200 Annual snowfall 13.4" metro-area #115 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 56% metro-area #132 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 260 state #15 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,700 state #47 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #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.
Top employers in Louisville Major public and private employers in the Louisville, KY area.
Salaries by occupation in Louisville Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $144,360 Pharmacists $133,710 Financial Managers $129,460 Marketing Managers $127,020 Physician Assistants $117,780 Human Resources Managers $113,300 Software Developers $105,990 Lawyers $104,180 Civil Engineers $100,880 Construction Managers $99,900 Mechanical Engineers $97,280 Physical Therapists $89,300 General & Operations Managers $88,940 Data Scientists $86,810 Registered Nurses $79,260 Web Developers $77,420 Dental Hygienists $77,140 Accountants & Auditors $73,470 Elementary School Teachers $64,430 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $61,710 Electricians $60,730 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,960 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,260 Carpenters $55,240 Graphic Designers $50,780 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,810 Medical Assistants $38,800 Real Estate Sales Agents $38,030
Cities in the Louisville area Louisville/Jefferson County (629,176) → Jeffersonville (49,771) → New Albany (37,598) → Jeffersontown (28,796) → Clarksville (22,087) → Mount Washington (17,987) → St. Matthews (17,511) → Shelbyville (17,239) → Shively (15,595) → Shepherdsville (14,136) → Bardstown (13,564) → Lyndon (10,997) → La Grange (10,073) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
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 from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
