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Louisville, KY Rent Affordability Calculator

The median rent in the Louisville, KY area is $1,116 a month including utilities, which takes 18% of the median household income ($73,863). Paying it on 30% of income needs about $44,640 a year.

On $74,000 a year, 30% of income is $1,850 a month for rent. A $1,120 rent takes 18.2% of gross income; many landlords want income of 40 times the rent, $44,800.

Rent you can afford
$1,850 a month
That rent takes
18.2% of income
Income a landlord may ask for (40× rent)
$44,800

Rent you can afford in Louisville, KY by income (30% rule)

IncomeAffordable rentAgainst the median rent
$40,000$1,000−10.4%
$60,000$1,50034.4%
$80,000$2,00079.2%
$100,000$2,500124.0%
$150,000$3,750236.0%

How this calculator works

Median gross rent and median household income for the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan area, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Affordable rent is 30% of gross monthly income.

What it assumes

  • Medians across all rentals, of every size and age; new listings usually ask more.

Questions people ask

What is the average rent in Louisville, KY?

The median gross rent is $1,116 a month, including utilities (Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What salary do I need to live in Louisville, KY?

To rent at the median on 30% of income, about $44,640 a year; many landlords ask for 40 times the rent, $44,640.

Is rent affordable in Louisville, KY?

The median rent takes 18% of the median household income there, within the 30% guideline.

How does the cost of living in Louisville, KY compare?

Overall prices are 6.9% below the US average, and housing 21.4% below (BEA, 2024).

Nearby and large metro areas

Related calculators

  • Rent Affordability CalculatorThe rent your income supports under the 30% guideline, what a given rent takes of your pay, and the income landlords often ask for, with median rents in large metro areas.
  • Louisville, KY Cost of Living CalculatorPrices in the Louisville, KY area are 6.9% below the US average, and housing 21.4% below (BEA, 2024). Compare a salary here with anywhere else.
  • Rent vs Buy CalculatorWhether buying or renting leaves you better off after the years you plan to stay, counting mortgage interest, tax, upkeep, selling costs and what a renter earns investing the down payment.

Sources

Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.