A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
29%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Glasgow Kentucky National
Cost of living8690100
Goods & Services97102100
Groceries96100100
Health care7593100
Housing7170100
Transportation8896100
Utilities8488100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Glasgow, KY

The cost of living in Glasgow affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Glasgow is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Glasgow Affordable?

Is Glasgow affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Glasgow, the median home price is 32.7% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 21.7% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Glasgow boasting a median household income of $56,407, 30.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Glasgow?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Glasgow starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 4.5%.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Glasgow, the utilities index registers 16.5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Glasgow, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Glasgow is 4% lower than the Kentucky average
  • The cost of living in Glasgow is 14% lower than the national average
  • Glasgow housing is 29% lower than the national average
  • Kentucky general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Kentucky state income tax is 73% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Glasgow

See all the best places to live around Glasgow

Compare Glasgow, KY Cost of Living

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      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$76,791$6,399$1,792$2,304
      Renters$38,901$3,242$908$1,167
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Glasgow, KY, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Glasgow homeowners, is $76,791. This would allow for a maximum of $1,792 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $38,901 which would result in a maximum of $908 to be spent on rental costs.

      Kentucky Sales Tax

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

      Kentucky Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Kentucky 4.5% 4.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.67$27.6228.8%
      Beauty Salon $46.17$51.119.7%
      Toothpaste $4.11$4.090.4%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.5416.3%
      Movie $14.18$12.8810.1%
      Yoga $16.08$19.6618.2%

      Groceries

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.00$7.703.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.66$4.731.5%
      Potatoes $5.76$5.269.6%
      Pizza $11.87$12.767.0%
      Beer $10.33$10.552.1%

      Health Care

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.08$140.0631.4%
      Doctor $100.89$153.8234.4%
      Dentist $95.93$123.1522.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.42$11.732.7%
      Lipitor $16.61$23.6129.7%

      Housing

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      Home Price $219,853.00$326,622.0032.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,897.61$2,480.2523.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,130.00$1,444.0021.7%

      Transportation

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.77$3.069.4%
      Tire Balancing $53.67$65.2117.7%

      Utilities

      Item Glasgow National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $161.52$220.1226.6%
      Phone $196.66$195.710.5%
      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.
      Hiseville, KY1827722.6%
      Horse Cave, KY2,4707822.4%
      Summer Shade, KY2417822.2%
      Cave City, KY2,6267921.2%
      Park City, KY6698218.4%
      Glasgow, KY14,9558614.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cowansville, QC14,980n/a 
      Summerfield, MD14,92912323.2%
      Colesville, MD14,92814544.8%
      Roanoke Rapids, NC14,9268713.3%
      North Auburn, CA14,91914141.0%
      Glasgow, KY14,9558614.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.