Kentucky vs North Carolina
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in Kentucky
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.99%
+0.5 pp in North Carolina
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$877
$1,349
+54% in North Carolina
Median Home Value
$221,500
$364,650
+65% in North Carolina
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$64,731
$80,431
+24% in North Carolina
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
60.3°F
+2.0°F in North Carolina
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/2 cities we track in Kentucky/North Carolina — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.