Mount Sterling, KY vs Franklin, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Franklin, VA has a modeled overall cost index 9.8% higher than Mount Sterling, KY.

Mount Sterling, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / month
Franklin, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / 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 Mount Sterling, KY and Franklin, 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: $752/month in Franklin, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,023 in Franklin, VA

Regional cost estimates: Mount Sterling, KY uses Lexington, KY. Franklin, VA uses Chesapeake, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 9.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$752
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$9.0K
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.

Mount Sterling, KY

Population:8K
Cost Index:
85.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$222K

Franklin, VA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
93.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$236K

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Mount Sterling, KY

The Bluegrass State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Franklin, VA

The Old Dominion State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Sterling, KY vs Franklin, 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
↑ 14.6%
Mount Sterling, KY
$2,247
Franklin, VA
$2,576
Difference
$328
more
All Utilities
↑ 24.2%
Mount Sterling, KY
$518
Franklin, VA
$644
Difference
$125
more
Other
↑ 6.3%
Mount Sterling, KY
$1,752
Franklin, VA
$1,862
Difference
$110
more
Healthcare
↑ 15.2%
Mount Sterling, KY
$615
Franklin, VA
$709
Difference
$93.79
more
Transportation
↑ 6.8%
Mount Sterling, KY
$1,298
Franklin, VA
$1,386
Difference
$88.34
more
Groceries
↑ 0.6%
Mount Sterling, KY
$1,070
Franklin, VA
$1,076
Difference
$6.00
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$870
↑ $150
1 Bed
From$890
To$870
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,050
To$1,100
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,430
To$1,440
↑ $10.00
Mount Sterling, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$890/mo

Franklin, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/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 Mount Sterling, KY
$8,252
Monthly in Franklin, VA
$752
Difference

Home Values

Mount Sterling
Franklin
$222K
Median Value
$236K
↑ +4.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.5%
↑ +42.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.5%

Homes in Franklin are 6% more expensive than Mount Sterling

Calculate payment - Mount SterlingCalculate payment - Franklin

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

Mount Sterling, 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

Franklin, 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

Mount Sterling, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Franklin, 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

Mount Sterling
Franklin
41 Good
Air Quality
36 Good
79.2%
Good Air Days
80.3%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
81 Low
🌪💨
Top Hazards
None
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days

Before moving from Mount Sterling, KY to Franklin, 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 Franklin, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mount Sterling, 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 Mount Sterling to Franklin moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Sterling, KY vs Franklin, VA

How do the cost estimates for Mount Sterling, KY and Franklin, VA compare?

Franklin, VA has a modeled overall cost index 9.8% higher than Mount Sterling, 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 Mount Sterling, KY, the model estimates $159,023 in Franklin, 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 Mount Sterling, KY and Franklin, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Mount Sterling, KY and $1,100/month in Franklin, 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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