CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
AZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Phoenix — 11.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $89,000 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+57.2%
Lexington
77.1
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Lexington
96.2
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+7.4%
Lexington
101.7
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+7.4%
Lexington
92
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+25.1%
Lexington
74.6
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$89,000
$9,000 more needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 1.1119. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

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

Phoenix, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Phoenix has 57.2% higher housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

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

Phoenix, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
1,608,139
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareReal EstateTourismFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Phoenix, AZ
4.1×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.