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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

๐Ÿ“ Covington, KY โ€” ZIP-level rent data ยท COL adjusted from Cincinnati, OH area

$

Numbers update automatically as you type

You'd spend $1.6K/month more in Austin, TX

$150.0K in your current city equals $168.9K in Austin, TX

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area
Overall Cost
โ†‘ 21.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,578
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$18.9K
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Covington, KY

Population:41K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$274K

Austin, TX

Population:979K
Cost Index:121
Median Home:$558K

Covington, KY

The Bluegrass State

41K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 41K residents.

Austin, TX

The Lone Star State

979K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • โ€ขLive music capital
  • โ€ขMajor tech hub
  • โ€ขSXSW festival city

Major Industries

TechnologyMusic IndustryEducationGovernment

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Covington, KY vs Austin, TX

๐Ÿ Housing
โ†‘ 61.2%
Covington, KY
$1,789
Austin, TX
$2,885
Difference
$1,096
more
๐Ÿ“ฆOther
โ†‘ 13.3%
Covington, KY
$1,537
Austin, TX
$1,741
Difference
$204
more
๐Ÿš—Transportation
โ†‘ 10.5%
Covington, KY
$1,162
Austin, TX
$1,284
Difference
$122
more
โšกAll Utilities
โ†‘ 19.1%
Covington, KY
$454
Austin, TX
$541
Difference
$86.81
more
๐Ÿ›’Groceries
โ†‘ 6.7%
Covington, KY
$899
Austin, TX
$959
Difference
$60.37
more
๐ŸฅHealthcare
โ†‘ 6.8%
Covington, KY
$551
Austin, TX
$589
Difference
$37.30
more

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

Covington, KY: Covington Occupational Tax$3,750/yr (2.5%)

Austin, TX has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$796
To$1,585
โ†‘ $789
1 Bed
From$878
To$1,685
โ†‘ $807
2 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,995
โ†‘ $865
3 Bed
From$1,487
To$2,525
โ†‘ $1,038
Covington, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,080โ€“$1,080/mo

Austin, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490โ€“$2,350/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,392
Monthly in Covington, KY
$7,998
Monthly in Austin, TX
$1,606
Difference

Home Values

Covington
Austin
$274K
Median Value
$558K
โ†‘ +2.7%
YoY Change
โ†“ -5%
โ†‘ +33.9%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +12.6%
$274K
Price Range
$272K - $1.26M

Homes in Austin are 104% more expensive than Covington

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†‘ $7.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$625
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.0%
Rate difference

Covington, 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

Austin, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Covington, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Austin, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

๐Ÿ’ก 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

Covington
Austin
52 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
44.8%
Good Air Days
42.6%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.5ยฐF
29 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
98 days
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+2.5ยฐF
29 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
98 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Kentucky and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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