Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 39% higher in Washington, DC. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,763
+124% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,885
+115% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,949
+78% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$2,249
+73% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$724,600
+227% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$106,287
+64% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$71,060
+47% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
34.9 yr
+2.8 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
41.1%
+19.5 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
63.6%
+30.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
22.7 min
30.3 min
+7.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
936
+23% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,535.4
3,627.1
+3% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
39.7 in
+5.2 in in Louisville, KY

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
$2.00
+14% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
25.0
+68% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$18.01
+6% in Louisville, KY

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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
10.75%
+7.3 pp in DC

Louisville vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Washington?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Washington?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).