CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
AZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Scottsdale — 11.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $89,000 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+57.2%
Lexington
77.1
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.2%
Lexington
96.2
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation+7.4%
Lexington
101.7
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+7.4%
Lexington
92
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities+25.1%
Lexington
74.6
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$89,000
$9,000 more needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 1.1119. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Scottsdale has 57.2% higher housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×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.