City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Louisville, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 9.1% higher than in Louisville, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Louisville, KY would need about $109,100 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,047 in Louisville, KY. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 17% in Louisville, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,538 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Louisville, KY.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to Louisville, KY changes real buying power by +9.1%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Louisville, KY: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Louisville, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,637 in Louisville | $109,126 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,047/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $48,370 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Louisville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 78.6 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 75.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Louisville, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,538/yr.
97 Strong offer
Louisville, KY → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,538/yr.
43 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Louisville, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Louisville, KY | Real change, Eugene → Louisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Louisville, KY | Louisville pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $61,610 | $67,233 (+4.6%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $110,270 | $120,333 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $76,320 | $83,285 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $84,850 | $92,593 (−18.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.