By Kenny Zhu

(Last Updated – 04/2025)

The birthplace of bourbon, Abraham Lincoln, and the famed Kentucky Derby has a lot to be proud of.

From the majestic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the legendary distilleries of the “bourbon trail,” Kentucky is chock-full of history, beauty, and culture.

Its 4.5 million residents can testify that there are plenty of reasons to check out the Bluegrass State, and its low cost of living is one of them. Here are details about the various expenses that make up the cost of living in Kentucky.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Kentucky?

Average Cost of Living in Kentucky: $47,272 per year

The average cost of living in Kentucky is $47,272 per person, according to recent personal consumption expenditure data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Living in Kentucky is generally very affordable; Kentucky was ranked the state with the seventh-lowest cost of living in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

Here’s a breakdown of the average annual expenditures by category.

Housing Costs in Kentucky

Average Housing Costs in Kentucky: $794 to $1,393 per month

Kentucky’s typical home value in February 2025 was $211,465, Zillow said. Compare that with the national median sales price of $357,138 for U.S. homes, according to Zillow.

Kentucky housing prices are more affordable than the rest of the country for both renting and owning.

However, Kentucky isn’t immune to the rising home prices seen around the country. Kentucky home prices rose 4.7% over the past year, which is actually faster than the average growth in U.S. home prices over that same period: 3.0%, according to Redfin.

Recent census data provides a sense of typical monthly housing costs.

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,393

•  Median studio rent: $794

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $797

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $917

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,078

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,099

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,309

•  Median gross rent: $929

Housing costs will vary depending on your location. Take a look at the typical home values for major cities in Kentucky, according to Zillow February 2025 housing data.

Utility Costs in Kentucky

Average Utility Costs in Kentucky: $359 per month

Utility expenses will take a bite out of your monthly budget. Here are some of the typical utility charges that Kentuckians pay every month.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Statista.com, “Average monthly residential utility costs in the United States by state”; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Kentucky: $352 per person, per month

If Kentucky’s average monthly cost for nonrestaurant food and groceries is $4,226, that’s about $352 a month.

Of course, food costs will vary widely depending on where you live within the state. For example, food in Lexington can be more affordable when compared with other major cities in the south. On the same scale, a more cosmopolitan city like Louisville is more costly.

Below are the city rankings from the most recent report by the Council for Community and Economic Research for food costs in Kentucky and four of its neighboring states, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Kentucky: $10,480 to $19,500 per year

Whether you’re commuting to work or making an annual pilgrimage to see the University of Kentucky’s Wildcats play, transportation costs can add up. What’s more, these figures will change depending on the size of your household.

Here’s a breakdown of transportation costs in Kentucky, according to the most recent data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Kentucky: $9,463 per person, per year

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ latest report, annual health care costs in Kentucky are typically around $9,463 per person. That works out to around $789 per person per month.

The total costs will vary depending on the quality of an individual’s health insurance and their medical needs.

Those looking for affordable health insurance in Kentucky can find more information through the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Kentucky: $750 to $1,189 per child, per month

Child care costs can really put a dent in parents’ budgets. How much of a dent can depend on the type of care sought.

For parents unable to bear the full brunt, the state Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible families pay for child care.

Typical costs in Kentucky, according to CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Kentucky state income tax: 4.0%

Kentucky is one of 11 states with a single-rate income tax structure, meaning that all Kentucky residents pay the same income tax rate regardless of how much they earn.

Meanwhile, the majority of U.S. states employ graduated-rate income tax structures, as does the federal government.

A flat tax of 4.0% is levied on income earned in Kentucky as of January 1, 2025, which is slightly below the national average. However, local cities and counties can levy additional income taxes on top of the state tax.

According to the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index, Kentucky ranks 22nd in terms of its effective tax rate, placing it in the lower-to-middle end of the country when it comes to tax burdens. Tax burden measures the total amount of taxes paid, including sales, income, and property taxes.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we’re done with everyday expenses, let’s take a look at the price tags on the local food and fun that Kentucky’s known for.

•  General admission tickets to the Kentucky Derby: start at $75

•  A “Hot Brown” open faced sandwich smothered in gravy at The Brown Hotel in Louisville: $31

•  A 30-minute tour at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont: $20 (adults 21+)

•  A mint julep at The Silver Dollar in Louisville: $12

•  Ticket to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory tour: $24 (ages 13-59), $23 (60+), $16 (6-12), Free (5 and younger).

Dressing up in Southern digs and attending the Kentucky Derby costs as little as $75, but choice seats for the Derby can easily cost thousands of dollars, and exclusive seats for the elite few can cost almost $300,000 for the most luxury of suites.

Whiskey aficionados will fit right in, as Kentucky happens to be the birthplace of bourbon; legend has it that Elijah Craig invented Kentucky bourbon using charred barrel-aging techniques. Today, 95% of the world’s bourbon is made and aged in Kentucky.

Connoisseurs who want to check out the bourbon production process can take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which tours some of Kentucky’s most famous distilleries. Admission to each distillery can cost anywhere from $5 to $20, and locations open to tours include household names like Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark.

Whether you’re munching on a Hot Brown sandwich while sipping any kind of “coke,” or enjoying mint juleps at the Derby, the Bluegrass State has something for everyone.

A word about that nickname: It’s not about music; it’s about grass.

Recommended: Average Monthly Expenses for One Person

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Kentucky?

According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, the average single, childless individual working a standard 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year, needs to earn $20.09 per hour, or approximately $41,787 a year, to qualify for a living wage.

As mentioned, Kentucky has the seventh-lowest cost of living in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings. Within the Southeast, Kentucky has the third-lowest cost of living among 12 states.

MERIC ranks Kentucky a bit less affordable, placing the state 17th in its most recent Cost of Living data series. That means Kentucky is still among the 25 states with the lowest cost of living, in MERIC’s assessment.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in the Southeast?

To give you a sense of how the cost of living compares in Kentucky, here are two of its cities’ cost-of-living details, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

By Jacqueline DeMarco

(Last Updated – 03/2025)

People can’t seem to get enough of those Idaho potatoes. Why do we say that? According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, Idaho’s population grew at a rate of 8.8% over the last four years. Compared to the percent population growth across the entire country, which was just 2.6% during that same period, Idaho is growing by leaps and bounds.

Even though it has just over 2 million residents, Idaho still only averages around 14 people per square mile. Compared to California, which hosts 253 residents per square mile on average, Idaho is roomy!

Let’s take a closer look at what it costs to build a life in the Gem State.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Idaho?

Average Cost of Living in Idaho: $46,270 per year

If you move to Idaho, you won’t be looking at a particularly expensive or particularly affordable lifestyle. According to the most recent Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) data collected from the annual Council for Community & Economic Research (C2ER) survey, Idaho has the 32nd-lowest cost of living in the United States — the 18th highest, in other words.

For a lower cost of living, you might want to head to Montana, which ranked 22nd on MERC’s list, or to Wyoming, which has the 25th lowest cost of living per the C2ER survey.

While these rankings give a general idea of how expensive a state is to live in, you may still wonder: What is the average cost of living in Idaho?

You can expect to spend about $46,270 a year on total personal consumption, according to recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis . This is how that lump sum breaks down.

That’s about $3,856 in average monthly expenses for each Idahoan.

Housing Costs in Idaho

Average Housing Costs in Idaho: $963 to $1,772 per month

Housing is likely your biggest ongoing expense, no matter what state you live in. The typical Idaho home value was about $456,464 in February 2025, compared with a typical U.S. home value of $357,138 nationwide, according to Zillow.

Home sales in Idaho have settled down from a frenzied pace in 2021, when nearly 40% of homes sold above list price (an indicator that they received multiple offers). As of February 2025, just over 10% of homes sold above list price, showing a less competitive housing market per Redfin data.

Whether you own or rent, as well as how large your rental is, can affect how much you’ll spend monthly. Here’s what that spending might look like, according to the most recent census data:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,610

•  Median studio rent: $1,151

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $963

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,183

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,558

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,772

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,748

•  Median gross rent: $1,256

The specific area of Idaho you live in can also affect how much you’ll spend. These are the typical home values for some of Idaho’s major cities, according to recent Zillow data.

Utility Costs in Idaho

Average Utility Costs in Idaho: $299 per month

Another ongoing expense you need to budget for is utilities. This is what that spending may look like in an average month in Idaho.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Statista.com, “Average monthly residential utility costs in the United States, by state”; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Idaho: $318 per person, per month

How much should you anticipate spending on food in Idaho?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Idaho’s average annual (nonrestaurant) food cost is $3,813 per person, so that’s about $318 a month.

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks the food costs in major American cities. The only Idaho city researchers examined was Boise. To put that data in some perspective, here are grocery item index scores from major cities in neighboring states. These are their respective grocery costs ranking using the most recent data.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Idaho: $10,849 to $20,188 per year

How much you’ll spend getting around each year is affected by where you live and what your or your family’s transportation needs are.

Here’s a glimpse at what it may cost to get from place to place in Idaho, according to the most recent data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Idaho: $7,507 per person, per year

Health care is a major expense in every state in the country. In Idaho, the average annual cost of health care is $7,507 per person, according to the most recent report of Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State.

How much you would actually spend depends on location, medical needs, and coverage.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Idaho: $728 to $1,002 or more per child, per month

Funding child care is a challenge for many parents, which isn’t surprising when you can spend around $1,000 a month on child care in states like Idaho.

Residents who need help financing child care in Idaho can look into the Idaho Child Care Program, which pays part of child care costs for eligible working families.

This is what the average child care costs are in Idaho, according to the most recent data from CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Idaho: 5.695%

As of January 1, 2025, Idaho assesses a flat rate of 5.695% on taxable income, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets.

Idaho’s flat rate of 5.695% is the second highest among the current flat tax states, of which there are 15 states, including Idaho (Washington state topped the list with a rate of 7%). The most recent ranking of State Tax Competitiveness puts Idaho at 11th among the most competitive tax systems.

High taxes do compel folks to seek greener pastures. In fact, in the last fiscal year, Idaho was the second most popular destination for Americans moving to new states where the taxes were lower.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we know what it costs to live in Idaho, let’s dive into what it costs to have some fun in this state.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis says personal expenditures for the average Idahoan are $23,909 per year. Here’s where some of that spending may be going (costs are accurate as of March 2025).

•  A family visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve in Arco, Carey, and Rupert, Idaho: $20 a day, for seven consecutive days, for a group entering in a single private vehicle. Visit historic lava flow sites, caves, and more in this “weird and scenic landscape.”

•  A 25-minute narrated ferry boat tour of the Snake River near Idaho Falls: $8-$40, varies by weight (kids under 30 lbs ride free).

•  A trip to Zoo Boise to get up close with the animals: $0 to $13 depending on age.

•  A single-day lift ticket at Schweitzer mountain near Sandpoint: $63 (ages 7-17), $105 (ages 18-64), $95 (ages 65-79).

•  Trick a friend with an optical illusion for dessert and try an “ice cream potato” at the Westside Drive in located in Boise: $6.69

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Idaho?

What it means to live “comfortably” in Idaho will depend on your lifestyle, income, family size, and more. That said, you can get a general idea of how accessible living comfortably is in each state.

Idaho ranks 23rd on U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, which measure the average cost of living in each state against the average amount of money most households have there. The state came out higher on the magazine’s overall ranking, however, as the 5th best state overall.

MERIC viewed the affordability in Idaho less favorably, ranking the state as having the 32nd lowest cost of living in the United States (or 18th highest).

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in and Around Idaho?

The Council for Community and Economic Research focused on just Boise in their affordability study, but here’s how the city stacks up to two other nearby cities with similar populations.