Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Reno?

Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Reno?

Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Lexington vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 14% higher in Reno, NV. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$769

$964

+25% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$887

$1,206

+36% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,119

$1,518

+36% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,408

$1,885

+34% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$272,100

$498,600

+83% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$67,631

$78,448

+16% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,620

$49,660

+2% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.3 yr

+2.1 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

53.6%

49.4%

+4.2 pp in Lexington, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

47.3%

35.7%

+11.6 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

20.8 min

20.6 min

+0.2 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.1

528.9

+97% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,304.4

2,489.3

+8% in Reno, NV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.6°F

53.8°F

+1.8°F in Lexington, KY

Annual Precipitation

45.2 in

7.4 in

+37.8 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

13.6

+9% in Lexington, KY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$12.09

+59% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Lexington, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

None

+3.5 pp in KY

Lexington vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Reno?: Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Reno?: Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).