City comparison
Cincinnati, OH vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 2.7% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $102,700 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,051 a month in Cincinnati, OH and $1,079 in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,415 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Cincinnati, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Cincinnati, OH to Lexington, KY ($110,865 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cincinnati, OH | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.4 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,399 in Lexington | $102,671 in Cincinnati |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,051/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,170 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cincinnati | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.6 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 91.0 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 95.4 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cincinnati, OH → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,415/yr.
77 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Cincinnati, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,415/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cincinnati, OH is in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Cincinnati, OH to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cincinnati, OH | Lexington, KY | Real change, Cincinnati → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,290 | $61,722 | −1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,785 | $74,678 | −1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,231 | $89,508 | −1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,865 | $106,437 | −1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,009 | $125,776 | −1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cincinnati, OH | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Cincinnati dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,740 | $61,460 | $63,102 (−2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $121,420 | $123,510 | $126,809 (+4.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,640 | $77,780 | $79,857 (−1.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,650 | $79,040 | $81,151 (−3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.