Bardstown, KY Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Bardstown, KY Summary

Cost of living in Bardstown research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Bardstown is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Kentucky, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Bardstown is 92, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Bardstown is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Bardstown ranks as the #34 cheapest in Kentucky out of 84.

  • Bardstown ranks as the #1,501 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bardstown is $252,759.

  • The median income in Bardstown is $49,781.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
92
Bardstown's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bardstown, KY?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bardstown has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Kentucky, Bardstown has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Kentucky's index of 92.

The standard of living in Bardstown ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 84 places we measured in Kentucky. By definition, that implies Bardstown ranks as the #50 most expensive place in the Bluegrass State.

For more reading on life in Bardstown, check out:

34 out of 84
In Kentucky
1,501 out of 6,489
In America

Bardstown Cost Of Living Vs. Kentucky

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bardstown. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Bardstown is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Bardstown is 102.

  • The Health index in Bardstown is 83.

  • The Housing index in Bardstown is 76.

  • The Transportation index in Bardstown is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Bardstown is 103.

Living Expense Bardstown Kentucky National Average
Overall 92 92 100
Services 101 101 100
Groceries 102 99 100
Health 83 85 100
Housing 76 71 100
Transportation 94 94 100
Utilities 103 105 100
For more reading on cost of living around Kentucky, check out:
Bardstown Cost of Living Vs. KY

Bardstown, KY Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Kentucky, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Bardstown is $252,759.

  • The Median Rent in Bardstown is $917.

  • The Median Income in Bardstown is $49,781.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bardstown is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bardstown is 0.22x.

Statistic Bardstown Kentucky United States
Median Home Value $252,759 $226,606 $303,400
Median Rent $917 $933 $1,348
Median Income $49,781 $62,417 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.1x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.18x 0.21x
$252,759
Median Home Value
$917
Median Rent
$49,781
Median Income

Bardstown, KY Costs By Category

Detailed Bardstown Services Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bardstown Kentucky
Shampoo $1.21 $1.28
Movie $13.05 $12.13
Bowling $21.91 $18
Haircut $26.5 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.07 $45.56

Detailed Bardstown Groceries Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bardstown Kentucky
Ground Beef $6.07 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.57
Milk $4.72 $4.67
Potatoes $5.19 $4.93
Pizza $10.35 $12.09
Beer $9.84 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.5 $3.7

Detailed Bardstown Health Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bardstown Kentucky
Optometrist $87.52 $125.68
Doctor $106.15 $135.78
Dentist $102.55 $113.29

Detailed Bardstown Transportation Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bardstown Kentucky
Gasoline $3.11 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.38 $59.92

Detailed Bardstown Utilities Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bardstown Kentucky
All Electricity $207.41 $193.99
Phone $192.46 $192.25

Bardstown SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bardstown

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bardstown. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Jeffersontown, KY has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Bardstown.

  • St. Matthews, KY has a cost of living index of 110, 1.2x Bardstown.

  • Shelbyville, KY has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Bardstown.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Bardstown
Jeffersontown, KY 28,988 101 1.1x
St. Matthews, KY 17,491 110 1.2x
Shelbyville, KY 17,436 97 1.1x
Middletown, KY 9,622 105 1.1x
Douglass Hills, KY 5,437 113 1.2x

Articles About Kentucky

Enjoy The Snack?