What is the cost of living in Owensboro, KY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Owensboro has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kentucky, Owensboro has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Kentucky's index of 89.
The standard of living in Owensboro ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Kentucky. By definition, that implies Owensboro ranks as the #59 most expensive place in the Bluegrass State.
For more reading on life in Owensboro, check out:
Owensboro Cost Of Living Vs. Kentucky
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Owensboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Owensboro is 98.
The Groceries index in Owensboro is 96.
The Health index in Owensboro is 76.
The Housing index in Owensboro is 94.
The Transportation index in Owensboro is 92.
The Utilities index in Owensboro is 95.
| Living Expense | Owensboro | Kentucky | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Owensboro 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 Owensboro Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Owensboro, 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 Owensboro is $209,851.
The Median Rent in Owensboro is $905.
The Median Income in Owensboro is $56,357.
The Home Value To Income in Owensboro is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Owensboro is 0.19x.
Owensboro, KY Costs By Category
Detailed Owensboro Services costs vs. Kentucky
Detailed Owensboro Groceries costs vs. Kentucky
Detailed Owensboro Health costs vs. Kentucky
Detailed Owensboro Transportation costs vs. Kentucky
Owensboro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Owensboro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Owensboro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Central, LA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.2x Owensboro.
Henderson, KY has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Owensboro.
Madisonville, KY has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Owensboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Owensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Henderson, KY | 27,852 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Madisonville, KY | 19,515 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Jasper, IN | 15,991 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Boonville, IN | 6,702 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Mount Vernon, IN | 6,400 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Huntingburg, IN | 6,396 | 81 | 0.9x |
