City Comparison

Gresham vs Lexington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Lexington

Kentucky
93
Below Average
$245,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,648
Median Income

The Verdict

37.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 37.6%, with Lexington being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to $54,492 in Lexington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
172
Gresham
82
Lexington
Groceries
101
Gresham
96
Lexington
Utilities
96
Gresham
91
Lexington
Transportation
126
Gresham
98
Lexington
Healthcare
103
Gresham
94
Lexington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $54,492 in Lexington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $103,226 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Lexington

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $245,000. The $214,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,908 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $456/month in Lexington. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gresham and 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham and 94 in Lexington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $69,600 in Gresham and $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $59,837 respectively. Lexington residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,298/month in Lexington. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/mo fits within this budget. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 90 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lexington is 37.6% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,492 in Lexington, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Lexington's is 82 with median homes at $245,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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