Monroe, GA vs St. Matthews, KY: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

St. Matthews, KY has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% lower than Monroe, GA.

Monroe, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,330 / month
St. Matthews, KY · modeled 2BR rent: $1,485 / 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 Monroe, GA and St. Matthews, KY 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

Current salary in Monroe, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $920/month in St. Matthews, KY

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $138,956 in St. Matthews, KY

Regional cost estimates: Monroe, GA uses Atlanta, GA. St. Matthews, KY uses Louisville, KY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 13.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$920

Savings

Annual Impact

$11.0K

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.

Monroe, GA

Population:16K

Cost Index:

96.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$351K

St. Matthews, KY

Population:17K

Cost Index:

83.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$337K

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Monroe, GA

The Peach State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 16K residents.

St. Matthews, KY

The Bluegrass State

17K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Monroe, GA vs St. Matthews, KY

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.

Category	Monroe, GA	St. Matthews, KY	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,222/mo	$1,832/mo	↓ $390less	17.6%
Other	$1,811/mo	$1,519/mo	↓ $292less	16.1%
All Utilities	$577/mo	$462/mo	↓ $115less	20.0%
Transportation	$1,362/mo	$1,252/mo	↓ $110less	8.0%
Healthcare	$581/mo	$561/mo	↓ $20.22less	3.5%
Groceries	$947/mo	$954/mo	↑ $7.21more	0.8%

Housing

↓ 17.6%

Monroe, GA

$2,222

St. Matthews, KY

$1,832

Difference

$390

less

Other

↓ 16.1%

Monroe, GA

$1,811

St. Matthews, KY

$1,519

Difference

$292

less

All Utilities

↓ 20.0%

Monroe, GA

$577

St. Matthews, KY

$462

Difference

$115

less

Transportation

↓ 8.0%

Monroe, GA

$1,362

St. Matthews, KY

$1,252

Difference

$110

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.5%

Monroe, GA

$581

St. Matthews, KY

$561

Difference

$20.22

less

Groceries

↑ 0.8%

Monroe, GA

$947

St. Matthews, KY

$954

Difference

$7.21

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,160

To$1,125

↓ $35.00

1 Bed

From$1,210

To$1,220

↑ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,330

To$1,485

↑ $155

3 Bed

From$1,590

To$1,900

↑ $310

Monroe, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,210–$1,210/mo

St. Matthews, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,150–$1,290/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 Monroe, GA

$6,580

Monthly in St. Matthews, KY

$920

Difference

Home Values

Monroe

St. Matthews

$351K

Median Value

$337K

↑ +1%

YoY Change

↑ +2.7%

↑ +47.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +23.5%

$351K

Price Range

$266K - $407K

Homes in St. Matthews are 4% less expensive than Monroe

Calculate payment - Monroe Calculate payment - St. Matthews

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $953

Per year

Monthly Difference

$79.38

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.6%

Rate difference

Monroe, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

St. Matthews, 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

Additional Tax Information

Monroe, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

St. Matthews, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Monroe

St. Matthews

50 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

50.8%

Good Air Days

50.8%

96 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

37 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

37 days

Before moving from Monroe, GA to St. Matthews, KY

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in St. Matthews, KY for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Monroe, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Monroe to St. Matthews moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to St. Matthews, KY by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Monroe, GA vs St. Matthews, KY

How do the cost estimates for Monroe, GA and St. Matthews, KY compare?

St. Matthews, KY has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% lower than Monroe, GA. 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 Monroe, GA, the model estimates $138,956 in St. Matthews, KY. 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 Monroe, GA and St. Matthews, KY?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,330/month in Monroe, GA and $1,485/month in St. Matthews, KY. 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 Georgia and Kentucky on TaxTakeHome.com