Cost of Living in Lexington, KY
Lexington-Fayette, KY — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
92.9
U.S. average = 100 · #212 of 387
Median wage
$48,620
all jobs · $3,305/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,079
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lexington, KY to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Lexington, KY vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.9 | −7.1% |
| Housing | 77.1 | −22.9% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 74.6 | −25.4% |
| Other services | 96.9 | −3.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lexington, KY
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $883 | $35,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,079 | $43,160/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,272 | $50,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,743 | $69,720/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,940 | $77,600/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Lexington, KY
Your take-home pay
$39,662
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$3,305Monthly
$1,653Twice a month
$1,525Every 2 weeks
$19.07Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,654
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,014
- Medicare (1.45%)$705
- Kentucky income tax$1,584
- Take-home pay$39,662
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Lexington, KY
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $239,200+ | $195,171 | $210,112 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $180,790 | $128,626 | $138,473 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $144,160 | $104,871 | $112,900 |
| Pharmacist | $136,530 | $99,923 | $107,573 |
| Financial Manager | $135,760 | $99,424 | $107,035 |
| Sales Manager | $124,860 | $92,355 | $99,425 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $124,230 | $91,947 | $98,986 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $123,790 | $91,661 | $98,678 |
| Software Developer | $123,510 | $91,480 | $98,483 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $123,070 | $91,194 | $98,176 |
| Lawyer | $111,040 | $83,178 | $89,545 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $110,210 | $82,623 | $88,948 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $109,890 | $82,409 | $88,718 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $103,820 | $78,351 | $84,349 |
| Civil Engineer | $103,090 | $77,863 | $83,824 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,000 | $76,466 | $82,320 |
| Construction Manager | $100,810 | $76,339 | $82,183 |
| Management Analyst | $99,190 | $75,256 | $81,017 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,500 | $72,789 | $78,362 |
| Physical Therapist | $94,710 | $72,261 | $77,793 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lexington, KY expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area are 92.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 77.1%. It is the #212 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lexington, KY?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,733 in Lexington, KY (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,620.
How much is rent in Lexington, KY?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lexington, KY are $883 for a studio, $1,079 for one bedroom, $1,272 for two bedrooms and $1,743 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Lexington, KY
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $144,160
- Financial Manager — $135,760
- Sales Manager — $124,860
- Industrial Production Manager — $124,230
- Administrative Services Manager — $123,790
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $110,210
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $109,890
- Construction Manager — $100,810
- General and Operations Manager — $80,440
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — $50,770
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $99,190
- Project Management Specialist — $84,520
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,780
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $77,310
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,390
- Compliance Officer — $71,700
- Human Resources Specialist — $69,990
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $66,800
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,280
- Training and Development Specialist — $59,870
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $123,510
- Computer Systems Analyst — $95,500
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Mechanical Engineer — $103,820
- Civil Engineer — $103,090
- Industrial Engineer — $101,000
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $65,230
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $63,780
- Healthcare Social Worker — $59,340
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $58,190
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $37,700
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $111,040
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $63,640
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $83,680
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $65,150
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $64,850
- Instructional Coordinator — $63,640
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,460
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $61,450
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $39,960
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $29,370
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $62,380
- Coach and Scout — $39,210
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $180,790
- Pharmacist — $136,530
- Nurse Practitioner — $123,070
- Physical Therapist — $94,710
- Registered Nurse — $79,040
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $79,010
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $66,890
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,480
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $59,710
- Medical Records Specialist — $49,760
- Veterinary Technologist and Technician — $43,430
- Pharmacy Technician — $40,700
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $48,690
- Medical Assistant — $40,370
- Nursing Assistant — $39,380
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,190
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $61,720
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $51,510
- Firefighter — $36,490
- Security Guard — $35,400
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,470
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,350
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910
- Dishwasher — $31,110
- Bartender — $30,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,990
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,920
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,340
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,840
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $24,090
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,800
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,460
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $30,830
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $35,100
- Animal Caretaker — $34,590
- Recreation Worker — $32,720
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $29,230
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $26,940
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $91,800
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $61,810
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $60,170
- Insurance Sales Agent — $59,510
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $50,690
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $44,870
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $38,990
- Parts Salesperson — $36,480
- Retail Salesperson — $30,100
- Cashier — $29,590
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $64,840
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $64,660
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,090
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,300
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $48,080
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,000
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,790
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $44,450
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $43,690
- Teller — $42,930
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $41,840
- Office Clerks, General — $40,250
- Customer Service Representative — $39,160
- Data Entry Keyer — $35,830
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $33,970
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks — $30,160
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,490
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,870
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $58,560
- Electrician — $57,320
- Carpenter — $52,030
- Construction Laborer — $46,300
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,270
- Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer — $77,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $61,320
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $60,280
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,080
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $44,910
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,410
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $59,730
- Food Batchmaker — $56,730
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $53,680
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $44,440
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $44,340
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,070
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,950
- Bus Drivers, School — $52,260
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,490
- Light Truck Driver — $42,810
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,910
- Driver/Sales Worker — $39,420
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,080
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,190
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,410