CostIndexUSA

Lakeland, FL vs Louisville, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Louisville
93.1
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Louisville is slightly cheaper than Lakeland — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lakeland, you would need $76,700 in Louisville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.0%
Lakeland
95.9
Louisville
78.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lakeland
96.2
Louisville
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Lakeland
103.8
Louisville
101.6
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Lakeland
93.9
Louisville
92
Utilities13.7%
Lakeland
86.9
Louisville
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Louisville, KY
$76,700
$3,300 less needed in Louisville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 0.9588. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Louisville, KY

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Lakeland has 18.0% lower housing costs compared to Louisville.

Income & Job Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Louisville, KY

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
633,045
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Louisville, KY
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.