Dawson Springs, KY vs New Ellenton, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Ellenton, SC has a modeled overall cost index 10.0% lower than Dawson Springs, KY.

Dawson Springs, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,110 / month
New Ellenton, SC · 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 Dawson Springs, KY and New Ellenton, 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

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Estimated savings: $640/month in New Ellenton, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,322 in New Ellenton, SC

Regional cost estimates: Dawson Springs, KY uses Nashville, TN. New Ellenton, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$640
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.7K
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.

Dawson Springs, KY

Population:2K
Cost Index:
78.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$114K

New Ellenton, SC

Population:2K
Cost Index:
70.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$124K

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Dawson Springs, KY

The Bluegrass State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 2K residents.

New Ellenton, SC

The Palmetto State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dawson Springs, KY vs New Ellenton, 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.

Other
↓ 16.0%
Dawson Springs, KY
$1,824
New Ellenton, SC
$1,532
Difference
$291
less
Housing
↓ 11.0%
Dawson Springs, KY
$2,240
New Ellenton, SC
$1,994
Difference
$246
less
Transportation
↓ 10.5%
Dawson Springs, KY
$1,206
New Ellenton, SC
$1,079
Difference
$127
less
Groceries
↑ 1.9%
Dawson Springs, KY
$1,020
New Ellenton, SC
$1,039
Difference
$19.13
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.7%
Dawson Springs, KY
$652
New Ellenton, SC
$670
Difference
$17.92
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.2%
Dawson Springs, KY
$558
New Ellenton, SC
$545
Difference
$12.50
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$720
↓ $110
1 Bed
From$880
To$860
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,110
To$970
↓ $140
3 Bed
From$1,550
To$1,260
↓ $290
Dawson Springs, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

New Ellenton, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/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 Dawson Springs, KY
$6,860
Monthly in New Ellenton, SC
$640
Difference

Home Values

Dawson Springs
New Ellenton
$114K
Median Value
$124K
↓ -4.8%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +30.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +0.5%

Homes in New Ellenton are 9% more expensive than Dawson Springs

Calculate payment - Dawson SpringsCalculate payment - New Ellenton

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

Dawson Springs, 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

New Ellenton, 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

Dawson Springs, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

New Ellenton, 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

Dawson Springs
New Ellenton
50 Good
Air Quality
51 Moderate
51.6%
Good Air Days
46.2%
97 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🫨🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
42 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
42 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Dawson Springs, KY to New Ellenton, 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 New Ellenton, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dawson Springs, 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 Dawson Springs to New Ellenton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Dawson Springs, KY vs New Ellenton, SC

How do the cost estimates for Dawson Springs, KY and New Ellenton, SC compare?

New Ellenton, SC has a modeled overall cost index 10.0% lower than Dawson Springs, 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 Dawson Springs, KY, the model estimates $142,322 in New Ellenton, 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 Dawson Springs, KY and New Ellenton, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,110/month in Dawson Springs, KY and $970/month in New Ellenton, 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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