Central City, KY vs Lake City, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake City, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Central City, KY.

Central City, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month
Lake City, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Central City, KY and Lake City, SC 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: $117/month in Lake City, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,405 in Lake City, SC

Regional cost estimates: Central City, KY uses Nashville, TN. Lake City, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$117
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.4K
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.

Central City, KY

Population:6K
Cost Index:
82.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$115K

Lake City, SC

Population:6K
Cost Index:
85.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$122K

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Central City, KY

The Bluegrass State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Lake City, SC

The Palmetto State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Central City, KY vs Lake City, SC

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.

Transportation
↑ 8.4%
Central City, KY
$1,214
Lake City, SC
$1,316
Difference
$102
more
Groceries
↑ 8.7%
Central City, KY
$1,003
Lake City, SC
$1,091
Difference
$87.63
more
Housing
↓ 3.5%
Central City, KY
$2,256
Lake City, SC
$2,177
Difference
$79.21
less
Other
↓ 4.2%
Central City, KY
$1,836
Lake City, SC
$1,760
Difference
$76.70
less
Healthcare
↑ 6.5%
Central City, KY
$642
Lake City, SC
$683
Difference
$41.74
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.6%
Central City, KY
$548
Lake City, SC
$590
Difference
$41.71
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$780
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$780
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,020
To$960
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,230
↓ $120
Central City, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Lake City, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Central City, KY
$7,617
Monthly in Lake City, SC
$117
Difference

Home Values

Central City
Lake City
$115K
Median Value
$122K
↓ -3.9%
YoY Change
↓ -1.6%
↑ +19.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +18.6%

Homes in Lake City are 6% more expensive than Central City

Calculate payment - Central CityCalculate payment - Lake City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$205
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.6%
Rate difference

Central City, 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

Lake City, SC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Carolina State Tax
Effective: 6.6%
$10.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.3%
$47.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,586/month
$103.0K

Additional Tax Information

Central City, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Lake City, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Central City
Lake City
50 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
51.6%
Good Air Days
63.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
89 Moderate
🌊🫨🌪
Top Hazards
🌀🌪
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
42 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
42 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Central City, KY to Lake City, SC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lake City, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Central City, 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 Central City to Lake City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Lake City, SC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Central City, KY vs Lake City, SC

How do the cost estimates for Central City, KY and Lake City, SC compare?

Lake City, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Central City, 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 Central City, KY, the model estimates $151,405 in Lake City, SC. 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 Central City, KY and Lake City, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Central City, KY and $960/month in Lake City, SC. 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 South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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