Oak Grove, KY vs St. Matthews, KY

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Oak Grove is 17.3% cheaper than St. Matthews. With a cost index of 80 vs 97, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Oak Grove to St. Matthews should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Grove is $1,208/month compared to $1,253/month in St. Matthews — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Oak Grove is more affordable at $143,500 median vs $325,700.

Median household income in Oak Grove is $47,886 compared to $80,716 in St. Matthews (-40.7%). While St. Matthews is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Grove spend roughly 30.3% of their income on rent, more than the 18.6% in St. Matthews. The St. Matthews ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.