A+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
32%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Covington Kentucky National
Cost of living9290100
Goods & Services102101100
Groceries102101100
Health care10384100
Housing6870100
Transportation10292100
Utilities100104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Covington, KY

Understanding the cost of living in Covington can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Covington cost of living index is 92, which is 8% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

In Covington, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Covington will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Covington Affordable?

Is Covington affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Covington, for instance, where the median home price falls 35% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 23.9% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Covington flaunting a median household income of $46,035, 16.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Covington?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Covington, the housing index is 31.7% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Covington, healthcare costs are 2.7% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Covington cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Covington is 1% higher than the Kentucky average
  • The cost of living in Covington is 8% lower than the national average
  • Covington housing is 32% lower than the national average
  • Kentucky general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Kentucky state income tax is 122% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Covington

See all the best places to live around Covington

Compare Covington, KY Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$65,457$5,455$1,527$1,964
      Renters$29,668$2,472$692$890
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Covington is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Covington has a median income of about $65,457 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,527 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $29,668. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $692 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Kentucky Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Kentucky 6% 6%

      Kentucky Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Kentucky 5% 5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.13$24.263.6%
      Beauty Salon $37.93$45.5616.7%
      Toothpaste $3.60$3.702.7%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.280.6%
      Movie $14.35$12.1318.3%
      Bowling $17.56$18.002.5%

      Groceries

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.91$5.841.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.72$1.579.1%
      Milk $4.80$4.672.7%
      Potatoes $5.05$4.932.3%
      Pizza $11.92$12.091.4%
      Beer $10.63$10.412.1%

      Health Care

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.42$125.6816.1%
      Doctor $159.40$135.7817.4%
      Dentist $106.67$113.295.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.68$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $497.02$468.606.1%

      Housing

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $120,100.00$184,700.0035.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,993.26$2,346.6915.1%
      Apartment Rent $722.00$949.0023.9%

      Transportation

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.27$3.465.6%
      Tire Balancing $73.09$59.9222.0%

      Utilities

      Item Covington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $197.10$193.991.6%
      Phone $186.48$192.253.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Plainville, OH1531021.7%
      Shawnee, OH1,0541021.7%
      Hooven, OH3268119.1%
      Shawnee village, OH5418317.2%
      Dillonvale village, OH6458316.6%
      Covington, KY40,466928.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Huber Heights, OH40,465937.0%
      New Tecumseth, ON40,488n/a 
      Westerville, OH40,4431054.6%
      Lancaster, OH40,4388910.8%
      Wentzville, MO40,4071022.4%
      Covington, KY40,466928.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.