Ludlow, KY vs South Hill, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Hill, VA has a modeled overall cost index 12.4% higher than Ludlow, KY.

Ludlow, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / month
South Hill, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / 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 Ludlow, KY and South Hill, VA 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: $971/month in South Hill, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,653 in South Hill, VA

Regional cost estimates: Ludlow, KY uses Cincinnati, OH. South Hill, VA uses Richmond, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 12.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$971
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$11.7K
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.

Ludlow, KY

Population:4K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$195K

South Hill, VA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
90.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$193K

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Ludlow, KY

The Bluegrass State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 4K residents.

South Hill, VA

The Old Dominion State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ludlow, KY vs South Hill, VA

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
↑ 22.6%
Ludlow, KY
$2,083
South Hill, VA
$2,553
Difference
$470
more
Other
↑ 9.4%
Ludlow, KY
$1,789
South Hill, VA
$1,958
Difference
$169
more
All Utilities
↑ 23.6%
Ludlow, KY
$543
South Hill, VA
$671
Difference
$128
more
Healthcare
↑ 12.1%
Ludlow, KY
$659
South Hill, VA
$739
Difference
$79.88
more
Transportation
↑ 5.7%
Ludlow, KY
$1,353
South Hill, VA
$1,430
Difference
$76.96
more
Groceries
↑ 4.4%
Ludlow, KY
$1,074
South Hill, VA
$1,121
Difference
$47.08
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$800
To$820
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$880
To$830
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,090
↓ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,400
↓ $90.00
Ludlow, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

South Hill, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/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 Ludlow, KY
$8,471
Monthly in South Hill, VA
$971
Difference

Home Values

Ludlow
South Hill
$195K
Median Value
$193K
↑ +3.1%
YoY Change
↓ -2.3%
↑ +37.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.6%

Homes in South Hill are 1% less expensive than Ludlow

Calculate payment - LudlowCalculate payment - South Hill

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $868
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$72.29
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Ludlow, 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

South Hill, VA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,718/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Ludlow, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

South Hill, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%
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

Ludlow
South Hill
52 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
44.8%
Good Air Days
79.2%
96 High
Climate Risk
78 Low
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
None
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days

Before moving from Ludlow, KY to South Hill, VA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South Hill, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ludlow, 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 Ludlow to South Hill moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to South Hill, VA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ludlow, KY vs South Hill, VA

How do the cost estimates for Ludlow, KY and South Hill, VA compare?

South Hill, VA has a modeled overall cost index 12.4% higher than Ludlow, 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 Ludlow, KY, the model estimates $161,653 in South Hill, VA. 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 Ludlow, KY and South Hill, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Ludlow, KY and $1,090/month in South Hill, VA. 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 Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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