Route comparison
Columbus, OH vs Louisville, KY: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Columbus, OH and Louisville, KY. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Columbus, OH
OH
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 94
- Housing RPP
- 87.6
- Goods RPP
- 92.1
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,302/mo
Ohio income tax 0%-3.75%. Columbus city income tax 2.5%.
Louisville, KY
KY
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 92.3
- Housing RPP
- 77
- Goods RPP
- 94
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,301/mo
Kentucky flat income tax 4.5%. Louisville occupational tax 2.2%.
Equivalent salary
Louisville, KY is cheaper than Columbus, OH by about 1.8% (RPP 94 to 92.3).
$60,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $58,915
in Louisville, KY
$100,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $98,191
in Louisville, KY
$150,000 in Columbus, OH
-> $147,287
in Louisville, KY
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Columbus, OH vs Louisville, KY
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Columbus, OH
- Net people
- −2,961
- Net rank
- #39 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 1%
Largest source: Cuyahoga County, OH. Largest destination: Cuyahoga County, OH.
Louisville, KY
- Net people
- +655
- Net rank
- #26 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Hardin County, KY. Largest destination: Hardin County, KY.
Rent delta: Louisville, KY is $1/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Columbus, OH. Housing RPP moves from 87.6 to 77.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Louisville, KY cheaper or more expensive than Columbus, OH?
- Louisville, KY (RPP 92.3) is cheaper than Columbus, OH (RPP 94) by about 1.8%.
- What salary do I need in Louisville, KY if I earn $100,000 in Columbus, OH?
- You would need approximately $98,191 in Louisville, KY to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Columbus, OH. Formula: $100,000 x (92.3 / 94).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Columbus, OH or Louisville, KY?
- For 2021-2022, Columbus, OH had a net loss of 2,961 people, while Louisville, KY had a net gain of 655 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.