Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 9% 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.

Louisville, KY
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,242
+58% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,324
+51% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,673
+53% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,729
+33% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$375,300
+69% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$71,302
+10% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$48,940
+1% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
35.6 yr
+2.1 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
50.2%
+10.4 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
44.6%
+11.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
22.7 min
24.7 min
+2.0 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
443.4
+42% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,535.4
1,473.2
+58% 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
73.4°F
+15.2°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
46.3 in
+1.4 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.25/gal
+2% in Louisville, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.9
+0% in Louisville, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$23.62
+24% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
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

Louisville vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Tampa?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Tampa?
Louisville 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).