Cost of living, Louisville
93.1
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Louisville sits about 6.9% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −6.9%
- Metro
- Louisville
- CBSA
- 31140
Louisville all-items RPP is 93.1 (2024), about 6.9% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $83,790 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Louisville
| Component | Louisville | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.1 | 100 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 78.6 | 100 |
| Other services | 96.8 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Louisville
| At US average | In Louisville |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $55,860 |
| $90,000 | $83,790 |
| $150,000 | $139,650 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (93.1 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Louisville?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is 93.1, versus a US average of 100 (−6.9%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $83,790 in Louisville for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 1,100 OEWS emp. $335,670
- Chief Executives , 640 OEWS emp. $213,920
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 1,280 OEWS emp. $150,710
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 600 OEWS emp. $149,430
- Pharmacists , 1,830 OEWS emp. $143,920
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary , 200 OEWS emp. $138,670
See methodology and disclaimer.