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2026 Edition · Prices 2024 · Rents FY2026 · Wages May 2025 · Federal pay 2026

City entry · KY

Lexington, KY

Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan statistical area

At a glance

Population1
535,174
Size rank among U.S. metros
109 of 387
Price level, U.S. = 1002
92.9
$100,000 here, at U.S.-average prices2
$107,655
Typical 1-bedroom rent3
$1,079/mo
Take-home on $100,000 (estimate)14,15,8
$75,798
Rent burden on $100,000
17%
Median pay, all jobs4
$48,620
Federal locality pay area7
Rest of U.S.
GS-13 step 15
$106,437

Rent area: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA.

What costs more or less

Price level (U.S. = 100)
Housing (rent)77.1
Goods96.2
Utilities74.6
Other services96.9
Overall92.9
BEA Regional Price Parities2. Housing covers rents.

On the map

Lexington
Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108
  • Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.

Where money goes further

  1. Shreveport, LA prices 8.7% lower
  2. McAllen, TX prices 7.5% lower
  3. Brownsville, TX prices 7.4% lower
  4. Kingsport, TN prices 6.9% lower
  5. Lafayette, LA prices 6.1% lower

Where it goes less far

  1. San Francisco, CA prices 24.5% higher
  2. Miami, FL prices 22.9% higher
  3. Los Angeles, CA prices 22.3% higher
  4. New York, NY prices 21.2% higher
  5. San Diego, CA prices 20.5% higher

Compare Lexington, KY with

Notes & Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan Statistical Area population estimates (Vintage 2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (MARPP), all items (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents, 1-bedroom (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan areas (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  5. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule (GS) pay rates with locality pay, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  6. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Locality codes used in the 2026 GS pay spreadsheet (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  7. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions (counties in each pay area) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file: states, 1:20,000,000 (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau, Gazetteer file: core based statistical areas (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table C24010 (occupation of employed residents) by ZIP code area (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Tabulation Area relationship files (2020; Connecticut 2022) and Gazetteer locations (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary files (ZIP code areas 2020; counties and states 2024) and TIGER/Line primary roads (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide for 2026 (Social Security and Medicare) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.