Marion, KY vs Mount Sterling, KY

Marion is moderately more affordable than Mount Sterling, with a 9.3% lower cost of living index. Marion scores 58 compared to 64 for Mount Sterling, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mount Sterling can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marion is $577/month compared to $564/month in Mount Sterling — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mount Sterling has cheaper rent, Marion actually has lower median home values ($104,100 vs $178,200).

Median household income in Marion is $40,691 compared to $50,843 in Mount Sterling (-20%). While Mount Sterling is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marion spend roughly 17% of their income on rent, more than the 13.3% in Mount Sterling.