A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
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 Nicholasville Kentucky National
Cost of living9490100
Goods & Services103102100
Groceries100100100
Health care9393100
Housing8370100
Transportation9696100
Utilities8888100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Nicholasville, KY

The cost of living in Nicholasville 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 Nicholasville is 94, which is 6% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Nicholasville are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Nicholasville can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Nicholasville Affordable?

Is Nicholasville an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Nicholasville is 17.5% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 16.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Nicholasville has a median household income of $81,952, which is 0.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Nicholasville?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Nicholasville, healthcare costs are 6.7% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Nicholasville, the transportation index stands at 3.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Nicholasville, 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 Nicholasville is 5% higher than the Kentucky average
  • The cost of living in Nicholasville is 6% lower than the national average
  • Nicholasville housing is 17% 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 Nicholasville

See all the best places to live around Nicholasville

Compare Nicholasville, KY Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Nicholasville?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Nicholasville?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Nicholasville poll results

      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$109,920$9,160$2,565$3,298
      Renters$57,813$4,818$1,349$1,735
      The affordability of the housing market in Nicholasville, KY as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Nicholasville homeowners, the median income is $109,920. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,565 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $57,813. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,349 for their rent related monthly 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 Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.71$27.624.0%
      Beauty Salon $59.93$51.1117.3%
      Toothpaste $4.24$4.093.6%
      Shampoo $1.38$1.5410.5%
      Movie $13.54$12.885.1%
      Yoga $24.42$19.6624.2%

      Groceries

      Item Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.61$7.701.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.71$1.662.9%
      Milk $4.72$4.730.3%
      Potatoes $4.65$5.2611.5%
      Pizza $9.99$12.7621.7%
      Beer $10.16$10.553.7%

      Health Care

      Item Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.97$140.067.9%
      Doctor $118.66$153.8222.9%
      Dentist $111.20$123.159.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.79$11.730.5%
      Lipitor $25.69$23.618.8%

      Housing

      Item Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $269,318.00$326,622.0017.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,840.98$2,480.2525.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,209.00$1,444.0016.3%

      Transportation

      Item Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.87$3.066.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.57$65.212.1%

      Utilities

      Item Nicholasville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $178.07$220.1219.1%
      Phone $196.47$195.710.4%
      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.
      Burgin, KY8828811.5%
      High Bridge, KY186919.5%
      Wilmore, KY6,581964.0%
      Versailles, KY9,568973.5%
      Lexington-Fayette, KY329,5321011.3%
      Nicholasville, KY31,738946.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Los Altos, CA31,735347247.1%
      Winter Park, FL31,76813433.5%
      Sahuarita, AZ31,69511313.1%
      Danville, IL31,6898515.2%
      Brooklyn Center, MN31,682990.6%
      Nicholasville, KY31,738946.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.