Cost of Living in Paducah, KY
Paducah, KY-IL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Paducah, KY to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Paducah, KY vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.1 | −13.9% |
| Housing | 48.8 | −51.2% |
| Goods | 96.0 | −4.0% |
| Utilities | 76.9 | −23.1% |
| Other services | 96.9 | −3.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Paducah, KY
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $752 | $30,080/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $843 | $33,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,049 | $41,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,287 | $51,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,698 | $67,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Paducah, KY
- Federal income tax$3,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,843
- Medicare (1.45%)$665
- Kentucky income tax$1,488
- Take-home pay$37,541
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Paducah, KY
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paducah, KY expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area are 86.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 48.8%. It is the #363 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Paducah, KY?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,650 in Paducah, KY (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,860.
How much is rent in Paducah, KY?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Paducah, KY are $752 for a studio, $843 for one bedroom, $1,049 for two bedrooms and $1,287 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Paducah, KY
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $75,470
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $79,920
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $39,360
- Nursing Assistant — $37,860
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,290
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $31,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,280
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,640
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,210
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $38,410
- Cashier — $28,550
- Retail Salesperson — $28,390
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $57,510
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,310
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,340
- Office Clerks, General — $37,290
- Customer Service Representative — $36,460
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $59,000
- Construction Laborer — $46,850
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,920
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $50,520
- Sailor and Marine Oiler — $47,550
- Light Truck Driver — $41,720
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,110
- Stocker and Order Filler — $33,120