50 states · KY

Kentucky cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Kentucky has a cost-of-living index of 92.5 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $46,250, median household income of $64,526, combined average sales tax about 6.00%, and regular gas about $3.597/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index92.5100 = US baseline

Est. annual COL$46,250

Median HH income$64,526

Sales tax (comb.)6.00%

Gas (87 octane)$3.597/galJune 2026 AAA

Largest cityLouisville (622,981)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Flat 3.5%

Sales tax: 6% state (combined avg. ~6.00%)

Major industries: Manufacturing (autos, bourbon), agriculture (horses), tourism, coal/energy

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~87°F (July) · Winter low ~26°F (January)

Culture (context)

Louisville Slugger Museum / Kentucky Derby heritage sites

Kentucky Derby (Louisville) — major cultural & sporting heritage event
Kentucky State Fair / Bourbon Festival

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What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 92.5 in Kentucky. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 92.5% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Kentucky vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

Read the quick answer for Kentucky's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
Open the 50-state explorer and compare Kentucky with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

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Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

South Carolina — COL 91.9 (Δ 0.6 index pts)
Minnesota — COL 93.4 (Δ 0.9 index pts)
Nebraska — COL 91.3 (Δ 1.2 index pts)

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FAQ

What is Kentucky's cost of living index?

Kentucky's cost-of-living index is 92.5 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Kentucky?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $46,250 for Kentucky.

What is median household income in Kentucky?

Median household income in Kentucky is $64,526 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Kentucky?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Kentucky is 6.00%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Kentucky have a state income tax?

State income tax in Kentucky: Flat 3.5%.

What was regular gas in Kentucky in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.597 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Kentucky's cost-of-living index?

The index is 92.5 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 92.5% of that salary to buy the same basket in Kentucky in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.