Boone County, KY vs Knott County, KY: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Knott County, KY is cheaper than Boone County, KY.

Moving to Knott County, KY is estimated to save $9,130 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Knott County, KYSave about $9,130 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Boone County, KY is about $41,225 in Knott County, KY.

Biggest drivers

No measured category is higher in Knott County, KY. Housing saves $4,525 per year.

Housing: $4,525 lower in Knott County, KY

Taxes: $2,236 lower in Knott County, KY

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $199 lower in Knott County, KY

Food: $104 lower in Knott County, KY

Transport: $628 lower in Knott County, KY

Boone County, KYKnott County, KY
Equivalent salary in Knott County, KY
$41,225
-17.55% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Boone County, KY: $114,142
Median Income in Knott County, KY: $47,002
Living Index in Boone County, KY 45.57%
Living Index in Knott County, KY 91.23%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Boone County, KY to Knott County, KY.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Boone County, KY to Knott County, KY is estimated to save $9,130 per year. A $50,000 salary in Boone County, KY would have similar purchasing power to about $41,225 in Knott County, KY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -17.55% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $4,525 per year lower (-35.91%); Taxes is $2,236 per year lower (-20.72%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Boone County, KY and Knott County, KY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Boone County, KY would need to be about $41,225 in Knott County, KY, or $8,775 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 45.6% of median family income in Boone County, KY and 91.2% in Knott County, KY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $4,525 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Knott County, KY changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $104 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Knott County, KY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $628 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Knott County, KY.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $199 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Knott County, KY changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $1,437 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Knott County, KY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Boone County, KY and Knott County, KY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Knott County, KY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $2,236 per year lower in Knott County, KY than in Boone County, KY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Knott County, KY matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Knott County, KY.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Knott County, KY
Annual Increase:

No increase

No measured category is higher in Knott County, KY.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Knott County, KY
Annual Savings:

$4,525 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Knott County, KY.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-36% lower
Food-3% lower
Transport-5% lower
Healthcare-3% lower
Other Costs-28% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-21% lower

In Knott County, KY, modeled annual costs are $42,881 compared with $52,011 in Boone County, KY.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Knott County, KY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Knott County, KY is not a metropolitan location, while Boone County, KY is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Boone County, KY vs Knott County, KY Cost of Living (2026)