Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,080 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 4% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$815
$769
+6% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$887
+1% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,119
+4% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,408
+13% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$272,100
+3% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$67,631
+4% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$48,620
+6% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.2 yr
+1.2 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
53.6%
+4.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
47.3%
+1.1 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
19.3 min
20.8 min
+1.5 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
269.1
+44% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
2,304.4
+4% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
55.6°F
+6.5°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
45.2 in
+9.2 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Lexington, KY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.3
+13% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$33.20
+38% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / KY)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.50%
+1.5 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Lexington?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Lexington?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).