🙂A single person spends $2,317 per month in Lexington, KY vs $3,107 in Beacon, NY, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,410 per month in Lexington, KY vs $4,315 in Beacon, NY, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,503 per month in Lexington, KY vs $5,523 in Beacon, NY, rent included.
🙂Lexington, KY is about 25% cheaper than Beacon, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Lexington, KY and Beacon, NY sit above the global median – Lexington, KY by 73%, Beacon, NY by 132%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.75$14.75
$11.88$11.88
24.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0$71.0
$70.6$70.6
0.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.20$10.20
$7.77$7.77
31.27%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$5.44$5.44
-7.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$1.95$1.95
16.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.87$1.87
-6.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.84$4.84
$3.96$3.96
22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04$8.04
$5.08$5.08
58.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71$0.71
$1.16$1.16
-38.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89$2.89
$3.52$3.52
-17.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$4.70$4.70
-2.55%
Eggs
$3.20$3.20
$3.31$3.31
-3.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77$12.77
$13.38$13.38
-4.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.02$11.02
$12.05$12.05
-8.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.43$16.43
$17.54$17.54
-6.33%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$4.99$4.99
-3.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24$1.24
$1.77$1.77
-29.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$4.07$4.07
-14.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$4.24$4.24
6.84%
Potato(1kg)
$3.37$3.37
$2.87$2.87
17.42%
Onion(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$3.58$3.58
-9.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$2.36$2.36
-13.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.16$2.16
-18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.08$8.08
$12.10$12.10
-33.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78$12.78
$15.26$15.26
-16.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$1.68$1.68
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23$3.23
$2.95$2.95
9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99$0.99
$1.99$1.99
-50.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.54$30.54
$66.8$66.8
-54.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11$5.11
$3.03$3.03
68.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$2.09$2.09
-22.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.72$29.72
$23.82$23.82
24.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.87$0.87
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K$23.3K
$29.5K$29.5K
-20.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$25.2K$25.2K
4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207$207
$124$124
66.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.6$72.6
$45.19$45.19
60.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8$67.8
$63.7$63.7
6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.38$35.38
$56.9$56.9
-37.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.06$30.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.79$14.79
$13.48$13.48
9.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,168$1,168
$1,178$1,178
-0.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.7K$24.7K
$23.8K$23.8K
3.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2$58.2
$42.86$42.86
35.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11$35.11
$57.5$57.5
-38.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103$103
$73.6$73.6
40.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157$157
$134$134
16.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,105$1,105
$2,409$2,409
-54.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,034$1,034
$1,877$1,877
-44.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102$2,102
$3,293$3,293
-36.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,731$1,731
$2,863$2,863
-39.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,079$2,079
$3,673$3,673
-43.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,106$2,106
$3,006$3,006
-29.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lexington, KY
Beacon, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,059$4,059
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.62
0.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lexington, KY: June 1, 2026
Last update for Beacon, NY: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,105 in Lexington, KY versus $2,409 in Beacon, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Lexington, KY versus $71.0 in Beacon, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $401 – making Lexington, KY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lexington, KY vs Beacon, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lexington, KY or Beacon, NY?
Beacon, NY costs about 34% more than Lexington, KY, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lexington, KY vs Beacon, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,475 per month in Lexington, KY and $4,660 in Beacon, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lexington, KY or Beacon, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lexington, KY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Lexington, KY and Beacon, NY?
Kindergarten costs $1,168 per month in Lexington, KY and $1,178 in Beacon, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lexington, KY or Beacon, NY?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Beacon, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lexington, KY or Beacon, NY?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lexington, KY, where all-in costs run around $2,317, than in Beacon, NY at $3,107. In Lexington, KY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beacon, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Lexington, KY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Lexington, KY compared to Beacon, NY?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lexington, KY or Beacon, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Lexington, KY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beacon, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Lexington, KY vs other spots: cost of living compared