Median rent is 48% lower in Louisville/Jefferson County ($1,120/mo vs $2,147/mo). Buying is cheaper in Louisville/Jefferson County, where the median home runs $233,900 versus $731,700. Households earn more in Boston ($97,344 vs $66,849 a year).
City A
Boston, MA
City B
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
How much would you need to earn in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY to maintain your standard of living from Boston, MA?
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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Boston
Massachusetts
Louisville/Jefferson County
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Louisville/Jefferson County — median rent of $1,120/mo versus $2,147/mo in Boston, a 48% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Boston: the median home is $731,700 versus $233,900 in Louisville/Jefferson County — 68% more expensive.
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Boston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Louisville/Jefferson County
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Boston averages 31.0 AQI (Good) and Louisville/Jefferson County averages 32.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Boston if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,344/yr).
Pick Louisville/Jefferson County if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,120/mo median).
Is Boston cheaper than Louisville/Jefferson County?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Boston vs Louisville/Jefferson County?
Median rent is $2,147/mo in Boston, MA and $1,120/mo in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY has the lower rent by about 48%.
Which has higher salaries — Boston or Louisville/Jefferson County?
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston, MA and $66,849 in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY. Boston, MA 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?
Boston, MA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 32.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Boston or Louisville/Jefferson County?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Louisville/Jefferson County to match my Boston income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
