| Index | St. Matthews | Kentucky | National |
| Cost of living | 107 | 88 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 131 | 70 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 101 | 94 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in St. Matthews? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in St. Matthews stands at 107, making it 7% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in St. Matthews are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of St. Matthews can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in St. Matthews, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 31.5% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Is St. Matthews 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 St. Matthews is 38.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 15.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. St. Matthews has a median household income of $101,580, which is 24.9% higher 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 St. Matthews, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 4.5%.
Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In St. Matthews, the transportation index is 1.5% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
The St. Matthews cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as 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 | $133,482 | $11,124 | $3,114 | $4,005 |
| Renters | $79,269 | $6,606 | $1,849 | $2,378 |
| 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. |
| South Park View, KY | 5 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Watterson Park, KY | 988 | 87 | 12.8% |
| West Buechel, KY | 2,113 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Shively, KY | 16,091 | 87 | 12.8% |
| Lynnview, KY | 779 | 88 | 12.2% |
| St. Matthews, KY | 18,592 | 107 | 7.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| McAlester, OK | 18,601 | 85 | 15.3% |
| Nipomo, CA | 18,602 | 164 | 63.6% |
| Hurricane, UT | 18,604 | 111 | 11.0% |
| Burke Centre, VA | 18,576 | 145 | 45.1% |
| Safety Harbor, FL | 18,573 | 119 | 18.6% |
| St. Matthews, KY | 18,592 | 107 | 7.3% |
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