Cost of living in Owensboro, KY
113,962 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 11.4% below the US average, with housing at 55.7 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,581 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Owensboro, KY
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for Daviess County, KY in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $68,002 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $5,667 |
| Taxes | $966 | $1,566 | $622 |
| Take-home pay | $4,034 | $7,601 | $5,045 |
| Housing | $870 | $1,138 | $1,138 |
| Childcare | $0 | $607 | $1,248 |
| Food | $424 | $951 | $1,234 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $29 | $29 | $29 |
| Other goods & services | $966 | $966 | $966 |
| Left over | $1,581 | $3,581 | $101 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($68,002). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Owensboro, KY vs Kentucky and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Kentucky statewide (light).
Within Kentucky, Owensboro, KY ranks 5th of 6 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 90.2. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $864 | $34,560 | 15.2% |
| 1-bedroom | $870 | $34,800 | 15.4% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,138 | $45,520 | 20.1% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,507 | $60,280 | 26.6% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,516 | $60,640 | 26.8% |
FY2027 FMRs for Owensboro, KY MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $907 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Daviess County, KY
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $125 | $7,960 | $115 | $7,335 |
| Toddler (2) | $115 | $7,288 | $99 | $6,299 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $115 | $7,288 | $99 | $6,299 |
| School-age (5–12) | $121 | $7,693 | $109 | $6,935 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in Daviess County, KY (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Owensboro
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Kentucky income tax | $1,632 | $2,507 | $4,082 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,394 | $4,924 | $7,431 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.6% | 21.2% | 25.7% |
Some Kentucky cities and counties levy local income taxes; none for Owensboro is in our verified data, so local tax is not included. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY | — | 88.6 | $1,138 | $1,581 |
| Evansville, IN · compare | 28 mi | 91.5 | $1,127 | $1,541 (−$41) |
| Bowling Green, KY · compare | 66 mi | 90.2 | $1,199 | $1,431 (−$150) |
| Elizabethtown, KY · compare | 68 mi | 90.6 | $1,087 | $1,585 (+$4) |
| Clarksville, TN-KY · compare | 83 mi | 90.9 | $1,307 | $1,533 (−$48) |
| Louisville, KY-IN · compare | 85 mi | 93.1 | $1,276 | $1,284 (−$297) |
| Paducah, KY-IL · compare | 96 mi | 86.1 | $1,131 | $1,529 (−$52) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Owensboro, KY expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Owensboro, KY metro at 88.6 (US = 100) in 2024 — 11.4% below the national average and the 320th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 55.7, goods 96.2.
What salary do you need to live in Owensboro, KY?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,034 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,581 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Owensboro, KY?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $870 for a 1-bedroom and $1,138 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $907.
Does Owensboro have a local income tax?+
Some Kentucky cities and counties levy local income taxes; none for Owensboro is in our verified data, so local tax is not included.