Median rent is 33% lower in Lexington-Fayette ($1,101/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Lexington-Fayette, where the median home runs $272,100 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Austin ($91,461 vs $67,631 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Lexington-Fayette, KY
How much would you need to earn in Lexington-Fayette, KY to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Lexington-Fayette
Kentucky
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Lexington-Fayette — median rent of $1,101/mo versus $1,655/mo in Austin, a 33% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $512,700 versus $272,100 in Lexington-Fayette — 47% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Kentucky tops out at 4.00% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.00% in Kentucky; Lexington-Fayette has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Lexington-Fayette
Income tax: 4.00%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Lexington-Fayette has cleaner air on average: 18.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,461/yr).
Pick Lexington-Fayette if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,101/mo median).
Pick Lexington-Fayette if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 18.0).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Lexington-Fayette?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Lexington-Fayette?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,101/mo in Lexington-Fayette, KY. Lexington-Fayette, KY has the lower rent by about 33%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Lexington-Fayette?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $67,631 in Lexington-Fayette, KY. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Lexington-Fayette, KY has better air quality on average: 18.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Lexington-Fayette?
Texas has no state income tax. Kentucky has a top rate of 4.00%.
What salary do I need in Lexington-Fayette to match my Austin income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology