Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Lexington?

Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Lexington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $35,000 in Lexington.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Lexington?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Lexington Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 6% higher in Lexington, KY. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$769

+24% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$887

+18% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,119

+21% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,408

+16% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$272,100

+38% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$67,631

+6% in Lexington, KY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$48,620

+2% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

35.2 yr

+0.2 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

53.6%

+6.0 pp in Lexington, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

47.3%

+3.1 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

18.6 min

20.8 min

+2.2 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

269.1

+16% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,304.4

+31% in Eugene, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

55.6°F

+3.1°F in Lexington, KY

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

45.2 in

+0.9 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

15.0

+8% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$29.48

+43% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Lexington, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / KY)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

3.50%

+6.4 pp in OR

Eugene vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Lexington?: Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Lexington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Lexington?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).