City Comparison

Juneau vs Lexington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

Lexington

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

The Verdict

36.6%

Living in Lexington costs 36.6% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Juneau, you would need $54,921 in Lexington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Juneau
82
Lexington
Groceries
123
Juneau
96
Lexington
Utilities
140
Juneau
91
Lexington
Transportation
125
Juneau
98
Lexington
Healthcare
151
Juneau
94
Lexington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $54,921 in Lexington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $102,419 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs Lexington

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $245,000. The $279,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,132 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $456/month in Lexington. Lexington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1536/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $364 in Lexington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 94 in Lexington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 57-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $59,837 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,298/month in Lexington. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lexington is 36.6% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,921 in Lexington, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while Lexington's is 82 with median homes at $245,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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