Bardstown, KY vs Kings Mountain, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kings Mountain, NC has a modeled overall cost index 5.9% higher than Bardstown, KY.

Bardstown, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / month
Kings Mountain, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bardstown, KY and Kings Mountain, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $400/month in Kings Mountain, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,803 in Kings Mountain, NC

Regional cost estimates: Bardstown, KY uses Louisville, KY. Kings Mountain, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 5.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$400
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bardstown, KY

Population:14K
Cost Index:
83.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$256K

Kings Mountain, NC

Population:12K
Cost Index:
88.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$234K

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Bardstown, KY

The Bluegrass State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Kings Mountain, NC

The Tar Heel State

12K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bardstown, KY vs Kings Mountain, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 13.8%
Bardstown, KY
$2,088
Kings Mountain, NC
$2,377
Difference
$289
more
Transportation
↓ 9.9%
Bardstown, KY
$1,428
Kings Mountain, NC
$1,286
Difference
$142
less
Other
↑ 5.5%
Bardstown, KY
$1,732
Kings Mountain, NC
$1,827
Difference
$94.94
more
Healthcare
↑ 12.2%
Bardstown, KY
$639
Kings Mountain, NC
$717
Difference
$77.87
more
All Utilities
↑ 10.8%
Bardstown, KY
$526
Kings Mountain, NC
$583
Difference
$56.73
more
Groceries
↑ 2.2%
Bardstown, KY
$1,087
Kings Mountain, NC
$1,111
Difference
$24.08
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$800
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$820
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,030
To$970
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,320
↓ $60.00
Bardstown, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Kings Mountain, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Bardstown, KY
$7,900
Monthly in Kings Mountain, NC
$400
Difference

Home Values

Bardstown
Kings Mountain
$256K
Median Value
$234K
↑ +3.8%
YoY Change
↓ -0.9%
↑ +43.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +36%

Homes in Kings Mountain are 9% less expensive than Bardstown

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $375
Per year
Monthly Difference
$31.25
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Bardstown, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Kings Mountain, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Bardstown, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Kings Mountain, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bardstown
Kings Mountain
50 Good
Air Quality
51 Moderate
50.8%
Good Air Days
46.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Bardstown, KY to Kings Mountain, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kings Mountain, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bardstown, KY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bardstown to Kings Mountain moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Kings Mountain, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bardstown, KY vs Kings Mountain, NC

How do the cost estimates for Bardstown, KY and Kings Mountain, NC compare?

Kings Mountain, NC has a modeled overall cost index 5.9% higher than Bardstown, KY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bardstown, KY, the model estimates $154,803 in Kings Mountain, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bardstown, KY and Kings Mountain, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,030/month in Bardstown, KY and $970/month in Kings Mountain, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kentucky and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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