A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
33%
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 Paducah Kentucky National
Cost of living9090100
Goods & Services100101100
Groceries95101100
Health care8884100
Housing6770100
Transportation9192100
Utilities121104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Paducah, KY

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 90, marking it 10% lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Paducah aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Paducah residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Paducah?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 6 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Paducah. The results indicated that 50% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 50% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Paducah Affordable?

Is Paducah 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 Paducah, the median home price is 36.1% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 26.8% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Paducah boasting a median household income of $39,061, 29.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Paducah?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Paducah comes in at 20.5% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Paducah, the groceries index is 5.4% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Paducah, the general sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates begin at 5%.

Where is the Data From?

The Paducah 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 Paducah is equal to the Kentucky average
  • The cost of living in Paducah is 10% lower than the national average
  • Paducah housing is 33% 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 Paducah

See all the best places to live around Paducah

Compare Paducah, 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$55,722$4,644$1,300$1,672
      Renters$24,496$2,041$572$735
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Paducah, KY, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Paducah, homeowners have a median income of $55,722. Using that number, a maximum of $1,300 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $24,496, which means there is a maximum of $572 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Paducah National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.34$24.264.4%
      Beauty Salon $44.12$45.563.2%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.0%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.9%
      Movie $13.11$12.138.1%
      Bowling $16.17$18.0010.2%

      Groceries

      Item Paducah National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.74$5.841.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.37$1.5713.2%
      Milk $4.50$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $5.13$4.933.9%
      Pizza $11.24$12.097.0%
      Beer $9.75$10.416.4%

      Health Care

      Item Paducah National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $94.06$125.6825.2%
      Doctor $105.07$135.7822.6%
      Dentist $103.51$113.298.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.26$10.653.7%
      Lipitor $470.38$468.600.4%

      Housing

      Item Paducah National avg. Difference
      Home Price $118,100.00$184,700.0036.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,772.15$2,346.6924.5%
      Apartment Rent $695.00$949.0026.8%

      Transportation

      Item Paducah National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.25$3.466.1%
      Tire Balancing $50.23$59.9216.2%

      Utilities

      Item Paducah National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $259.32$193.9933.7%
      Phone $189.86$192.251.2%
      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.
      Lovelaceville, KY0928.0%
      Joppa, IL2638019.9%
      Lowes, KY807525.2%
      Brookport, IL8238317.0%
      Burna, KY668416.1%
      Paducah, KY24,947909.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wyandotte, MI24,944918.7%
      Belvidere, IL24,9328713.3%
      Walker, MI24,930973.4%
      Ossining, NY24,96613736.8%
      Athens, OH24,978973.1%
      Paducah, KY24,947909.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.