Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Nashua?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Nashua?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Nashua?

Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Louisville vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Louisville, KY versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 30% higher in Nashua, NH. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Louisville, KY

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,127

+43% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$877

$1,383

+58% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,096

$1,699

+55% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,951

+50% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,500

$373,100

+68% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$64,731

$92,457

+43% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,370

$56,530

+17% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.7 yr

39.7 yr

+2.0 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

60.6%

56.4%

+4.2 pp in Louisville, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

40.5%

+7.1 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

22.7 min

25.3 min

+2.6 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

763.4

164.9

+78% in Louisville, KY

Property Crime

3,536.6

1,269

+64% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

58.2°F

49.2°F

+9.0°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

44.9 in

44.6 in

+0.3 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Nashua, NH

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.3

27.0

+89% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.20

$21.67

+35% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Louisville, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

None

+3.5 pp in KY

Louisville vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Nashua?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Nashua?: Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).