Is Louisville expensive to live in?

Louisville is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $877 per month ranks #48 of 50 and is 28% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Louisville?

Average rent in Louisville, KY runs a studio around $786, a one-bedroom around $877, a two-bedroom around $1,096, a three-bedroom around $1,299 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Louisville?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $877 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,731.

How much does it cost to live in Louisville per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Louisville is about $1,040 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

City skyline at dusk with illuminated buildings — Louisville, KY

Cost of Living in Louisville, KY

Population 633,045 · Kentucky

~$1,040/mo est.1BR $877Home $221,500

Photo: Chris Marlin / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Louisville, KY is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $877 a month — 28% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $786 and two-bedrooms $1,096.

Median household income here is $64,731, 15% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,040 before food and transport. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $877

Studio

$786

1 Bedroom

$877

2 Bedroom

$1,096

3 Bedroom

$1,299

Buying a Home$221,500

Median Home Value

$221,500

Income$64,731

Median Household Income

$64,731

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,370

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.16

Bread (lb)

$1.73

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.9¢/kWh

Electricity

14.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$19.12/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.35/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$4.35/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.75

Base Fare (TARC)

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (KY)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 3.50%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime761.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

761.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,535.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Louisville Metro Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 37.7 yrs

Median Age

37.7 yrs

Homeownership

60.6%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

Avg Commute

22.7 min

Climate58.2°F

Avg Annual Temperature

58.2°F

Annual Precipitation

44.9 in

Louisville cost of living — FAQ

Is Louisville expensive to live in?: Louisville is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $877 per month ranks #48 of 50 and is 28% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Louisville?: Average rent in Louisville, KY runs a studio around $786, a one-bedroom around $877, a two-bedroom around $1,096, a three-bedroom around $1,299 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Louisville?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $877 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,731.
How much does it cost to live in Louisville per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Louisville is about $1,040 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Louisville with nearby cities

Louisville vs Indianapolis Louisville vs Nashville Louisville vs Columbus Louisville vs Chicago Louisville vs Memphis Louisville vs Atlanta

Nearby cities

Indianapolis, IN 107 mi Nashville, TN 155 mi Columbus, OH 189 mi Chicago, IL 269 mi Memphis, TN 320 mi Atlanta, GA 320 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.