| Index | Paducah | Kentucky | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 88 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 68 | 70 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 94 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Paducah allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Paducah stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Paducah to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 50% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 50% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Paducah 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 Paducah is 33.2% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 28.4% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Paducah has a median household income of $58,279, which is 28.3% 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 Paducah, the transportation index stands at 1.1% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Paducah, the healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Paducah, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 4.5%.
The Paducah cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $82,344 | $6,862 | $1,921 | $2,471 |
| Renters | $36,095 | $3,008 | $842 | $1,083 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Kentucky | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Kentucky | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lovelaceville, KY | 0 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Joppa, IL | 271 | 78 | 21.9% |
| Lowes, KY | 84 | 79 | 21.2% |
| Brookport, IL | 849 | 81 | 18.9% |
| Burna, KY | 68 | 82 | 18.0% |
| Paducah, KY | 25,703 | 88 | 11.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Walker, MI | 25,711 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Homewood, AL | 25,716 | 123 | 23.1% |
| Tecumseh, ON | 25,689 | n/a | |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 25,686 | 132 | 32.3% |
| Decatur, GA | 25,677 | 147 | 46.8% |
| Paducah, KY | 25,703 | 88 | 11.6% |
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