Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 15% higher in Louisville, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$786
$893
+14% in Rutland, VT
1 Bedroom
$877
$856
+2% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,097
+0% in Rutland, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,207
+7% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$176,400
+20% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$55,000
+15% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
48.5 yr
+10.8 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
60.6%
52.7%
+7.9 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
32.2%
+1.2 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
22.7 min
14.7 min
+8.0 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
763.4
487.8
+36% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,536.6
3,973.3
+12% in Rutland, VT

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
44.6°F
+13.6°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
40.5 in
+4.4 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Rutland, VT

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
24.4
+71% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.20
$26.07
+21% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rutland, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Rutland, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Louisville, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Rutland, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Rutland, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
8.75%
+5.3 pp in VT

Louisville vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Rutland?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Rutland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Rutland?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).