CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $76,900 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.1%
Gainesville
93
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Gainesville
96.2
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.0%
Gainesville
103.8
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Gainesville
93.9
Lexington
92
Utilities15.4%
Gainesville
88.2
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$76,900
$3,100 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9607. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Gainesville has 17.1% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.