Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,060 in Louisville, KY versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 3% higher in Louisville, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,183
+51% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,195
+36% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,374
+25% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,447
+11% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$328,100
+48% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$62,671
+3% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$51,460
+6% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
34.5 yr
+3.2 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
43.5%
+17.1 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
44.1%
+10.7 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.1 min
+0.6 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
763.4
349
+54% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,536.6
3,240.2
+8% 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
58.9°F
+0.7°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
43.6 in
+1.3 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Louisville, KY

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)
15.0
17.6
+18% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$23.66
+20% in Louisville, 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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
5.75%
+2.3 pp in VA

Louisville vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Richmond?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Richmond?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).