Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, KY would need to be about $42,765 in Bath County, KY, or $7,235 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Jefferson County, KY vs Bath County, KY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Bath County, KY is cheaper than Jefferson County, KY.
Moving to Bath County, KY is estimated to save $7,014 per year.
Cheaper County
Bath County, KYSave about $7,014 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Jefferson County, KY is about $42,765 in Bath County, KY.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,989 per year. Housing saves $4,751 per year.
Housing: $4,751 lower in Bath County, KY
Taxes: $1,714 lower in Bath County, KY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $413 lower in Bath County, KY
Food: $496 lower in Bath County, KY
Transport: $1,989 higher in Bath County, KY
Jefferson County, KY→Bath County, KY
Equivalent salary in Bath County, KY
$42,765
-14.47% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Jefferson County, KY: $88,392
Median Income in Bath County, KY: $69,492
Living Index in Jefferson County, KY 54.85%
Living Index in Bath County, KY 59.68%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Jefferson County, KY to Bath 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 Jefferson County, KY to Bath County, KY is estimated to save $7,014 per year. A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, KY would have similar purchasing power to about $42,765 in Bath County, KY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -14.47% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $4,751 per year lower (-38.82%); Taxes is $1,714 per year lower (-17.28%).
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 Jefferson County, KY and Bath County, KY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 54.9% of median family income in Jefferson County, KY and 59.7% in Bath County, KY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $4,751 per year lower in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Bath County, KY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $496 per year lower in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Bath County, KY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,989 per year higher in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson 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 Bath County, KY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $413 per year lower in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Bath County, KY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,629 per year lower in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Bath County, KY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Jefferson County, KY and Bath County, KY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Bath County, KY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,714 per year lower in Bath County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Bath 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 Bath County, KY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Bath County, KY
Annual Increase:
$1,989 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Bath County, KY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Bath County, KY
Annual Savings:
$4,751 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Bath County, KY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -39% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | 17% higher | |
| Healthcare | -8% lower | |
| Other Costs | -32% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -17% lower |
In Bath County, KY, modeled annual costs are $41,473 compared with $48,487 in Jefferson County, KY.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Bath County, KY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Bath County, KY is not a metropolitan location, while Jefferson County, KY is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
