Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 6% higher in Louisville, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,126
+43% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,189
+36% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,394
+27% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,406
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$232,400
+5% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$60,698
+6% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$54,310
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
35.1 yr
+2.6 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
52.3%
+8.3 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
34.6%
+1.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
32.0 min
+9.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
916.8
+20% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,535.4
4,614.3
+31% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+1.1°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
48.5 in
+3.6 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Louisville, KY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
20.9
+41% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$16.67
+13% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Louisville, KY
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.92
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.07%
+0.4 pp in KY

Louisville vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Philadelphia?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Philadelphia?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).