CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Louisville, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Louisville
93.1
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Louisville is moderately cheaper than Denver — 12.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $70,400 in Louisville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing46.5%
Denver
146.9
Louisville
78.6
🛒 Groceries4.8%
Denver
101
Louisville
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Denver
104.4
Louisville
101.6
🏥 Healthcare2.6%
Denver
94.5
Louisville
92
Utilities14.7%
Denver
87.9
Louisville
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Louisville, KY
$70,400
$9,600 less needed in Louisville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.8800. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Louisville, KY

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

Denver has 46.5% lower housing costs compared to Louisville.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

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).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.