Los Angeles County, CA vs Fayette County, KY: Cost of Living Difference

Fayette County, KY is cheaper than Los Angeles County, CA for modeled annual cost of living. This comparison shows the yearly cost gap, salary needed to keep similar purchasing power, and the categories driving the difference.

Is it cheaper?

Fayette County, KY is cheaper than Los Angeles County, CA.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper place

Fayette County, KYSave about $22,172 per year.

Cost gap

Moving to Fayette County, KY is estimated to save $22,172 per year.

AnnualSave about $22,172 per year.

MonthlySave about $1,848 per month.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Los Angeles County, CA is about $33,290 in Fayette County, KY.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $551 per year. Housing saves $12,404 per year.

Los Angeles County, CAFayette County, KY
Equivalent salary in Fayette County, KY
$33,290
-33.42% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Los Angeles County, CA: $98,839
Median Income in Fayette County, KY: $95,958
annual living index in Los Angeles County, CA 67.11%
annual living index in Fayette County, KY 46.02%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Los Angeles County, CA to Fayette County, KY.

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

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Category-by-category comparison

Annual costs are shown for the selected household. The difference column shows how much more or less the category costs in Fayette County, KY compared with Los Angeles County, CA.

CategoryLos Angeles County, CAFayette County, KYAnnual differenceMonthly impactDirection
Housing$22,272$9,868-$12,404(-55.69%)-$1,034Lower in Fayette County, KY
Taxes$14,555$8,852-$5,703(-39.18%)-$475Lower in Fayette County, KY
Other Costs$8,283$4,361-$3,922(-47.35%)-$327Lower in Fayette County, KY
Healthcare$4,775$5,326+$551(11.54%)+$46Higher in Fayette County, KY
Transport$12,042$11,579-$463(-3.84%)-$39Lower in Fayette County, KY
Food$4,408$4,177-$231(-5.24%)-$19Lower in Fayette County, KY
Childcare$0$0$0(0%)$0About even

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Los Angeles County, CA and Fayette County, KY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 67.1% of median family income in Los Angeles County, CA and 46.0% in Fayette County, KY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $12,404 per year lower in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Fayette County, KY changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $231 per year lower in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller modeled gap in Fayette County, KY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $463 per year lower in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Fayette County, KY.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $551 per year higher in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Fayette County, KY changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $3,922 per year lower in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Fayette County, KY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

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

Taxes

Taxes is $5,703 per year lower in Fayette County, KY than in Los Angeles County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Fayette County, KY matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

Methodology and data vintage

WatchPennies uses county-level 2026 cost estimates from a 2025-2026 cost-data snapshot. The comparison includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, other necessities, taxes, total cost, and median family income context when available.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Los Angeles County, CA or Fayette County, KY?

Fayette County, KY is cheaper than Los Angeles County, CA by about $22,172 per year.

How much salary is needed in Fayette County, KY?

A $50,000 salary in Los Angeles County, CA is modeled as roughly equivalent to $33,290 in Fayette County, KY for the selected household profile.

What costs are included in this Los Angeles County, CA vs Fayette County, KY comparison?

The comparison includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, other necessities, taxes, total cost, and median family income context when available.

Is this comparison personalized financial advice?

No. WatchPennies comparisons are directional planning estimates based on county-level public datasets, not personalized financial, tax, housing, or relocation advice.

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