CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Harrisburg — 5.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $75,300 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.9%
Harrisburg
96.3
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries4.5%
Harrisburg
100.7
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Harrisburg
102.6
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Harrisburg
92.8
Lexington
92
Utilities31.0%
Harrisburg
108.1
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$75,300
$4,700 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 0.9412. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Lexington, KY

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

Harrisburg has 19.9% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.