Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 5% higher in Tampa, FL. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$769
$1,242
+62% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,324
+49% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,673
+50% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,729
+23% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$375,300
+38% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$71,302
+5% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$48,940
+1% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
35.6 yr
+0.4 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
53.6%
50.2%
+3.4 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
44.6%
+2.7 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
24.7 min
+3.9 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
443.2
+65% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
2,304.4
1,473.2
+36% in Lexington, KY

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
73.4°F
+17.8°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
46.3 in
+1.1 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.77/gal
+4% in Lexington, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
15.2
+1% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$23.62
+20% 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 (KY / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
None
+3.5 pp in KY

Lexington vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Tampa?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Tampa?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).