What is the cost of living in Central City, KY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Central City has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kentucky, Central City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Kentucky's index of 89.
The standard of living in Central City ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Kentucky. By definition, that implies Central City ranks as the #79 most expensive place in the Bluegrass State.
For more reading on life in Central City, check out:
Central City Cost Of Living Vs. Kentucky
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Central City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Central City is 99.
The Groceries index in Central City is 93.
The Health index in Central City is 69.
The Housing index in Central City is 94.
The Transportation index in Central City is 95.
The Utilities index in Central City is 97.
| Living Expense | Central City | Kentucky | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 89 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 96 | 100 |
Central City Cost Of Living Compared To Kentucky Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Kentucky, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Central City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Central City, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Central City is $120,967.
The Median Rent in Central City is $683.
The Median Income in Central City is $50,885.
The Home Value To Income in Central City is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Central City is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Central City | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $120,967 | $231,894 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $683 | $967 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,885 | $63,726 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.4x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Central City, KY Costs By Category
Detailed Central City Services costs vs. Kentucky
| Item | Central City | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.11 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.34 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $44.12 | $45.56 |
Detailed Central City Groceries costs vs. Kentucky
| Item | Central City | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.74 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.37 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.13 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.75 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.7 | $3.7 |
Detailed Central City Health costs vs. Kentucky
| Item | Central City | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $94.06 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.07 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Central City Transportation costs vs. Kentucky
| Item | Central City | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.23 | $59.92 |
Detailed Central City Utilities costs vs. Kentucky
| Item | Central City | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $259.32 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.86 | $192.25 |
