CostIndexUSA

Jonesboro, AR vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
KY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jonesboro is moderately cheaper than Lexington — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jonesboro, you would need $86,500 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+43.3%
Jonesboro
53.8
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Jonesboro
93.6
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Jonesboro
100.1
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Jonesboro
90.5
Lexington
92
Utilities≈ Equal
Jonesboro
75
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Jonesboro to see what you'd need to earn in Lexington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$86,500
$6,500 more needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0815. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Lexington has 43.3% higher housing costs compared to Jonesboro.

Income & Job Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.