CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Louisville, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Louisville
93.1
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Louisville is moderately cheaper than Austin — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $75,900 in Louisville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing34.7%
Austin
120.4
Louisville
78.6
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Austin
93.8
Louisville
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Austin
101.1
Louisville
101.6
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Austin
91.4
Louisville
92
Utilities8.5%
Austin
82
Louisville
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Louisville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Louisville, KY
$75,900
$4,100 less needed in Louisville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9490. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Louisville, KY

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Austin has 34.7% lower housing costs compared to Louisville.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Louisville, KY

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
633,045
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Louisville, KY
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.