CostIndexUSA

Lansing, MI vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lansing, you would need $78,200 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.7%
Lansing
83.5
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Lansing
93.7
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Lansing
104.5
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Lansing
94.6
Lexington
92
Utilities21.9%
Lansing
95.5
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 95) = salary × 0.9779. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lexington, KY

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

Lansing has 7.7% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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).

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.