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Cost of living in Paducah, KY

Compared with New York. Change city

$2,734a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $32,811 a year, enough to cover 24 months of the mortgage in Paducah. The average commute is 16 minutes shorter each way, about 2.7 hours a week back4.

Typical home $244,450 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $886 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

Brick street in downtown Paducah lined with historic buildings and autumn trees, PaducahGarret Shields / Pexels
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  • On the waterOhio River

Paducah at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Paducah$1,343/mo
$244,450 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Paducah$886/mo
About $1,111 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Paducah

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Paducah$244,450
67% less, a $497,550 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Paducah$131
3.8 times the space for the money

Pays you to move

8
$5,000 cashMove to Paducah (Remote Workers Incentive Program)$5,000 cash in two $2,500 payments (on establishing residency and at one year); $6,500 total with perksWho qualifies: 21+, work full time for an employer whose offices are all 100+ miles away (or self-employed), live 100+ miles from Paducah when applying, establish residency within 3 months, stay one year beyond the 12-month program; not in another publicly funded program.Program details, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026

Weather

7
  • 27.3°January low
  • 89.9°July high
  • 8.9 inSnow per year

Day-to-day costs

    Paducah in a paragraph

    The median listed home in Paducah is $244,450 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 42% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,343 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $886 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025).

    Your New York, in Paducah

    We're matching Paducah's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

    See how Paducah ranks for your household

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    Is Paducah a good place to live?

    Paducah fits families who want homes list 42% below the US median and pays you to move. The main trade-off is no nonstop flights to New York. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

    What you gain

    • Homes list 42% below the US median$244,450 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
    • Pays you to moveMove to Paducah (Remote Workers Incentive Program): $5,000 cash.Program page, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026
    • On the waterOhio RiverSlower Sundays city profile

    What you trade

    • No nonstop flights to New YorkTrips home mean a connection or a drive to a bigger airport.Airport route page, October 15, 2026

    More on Paducah and Kentucky

    Paducah cost of living: questions people ask

    What is the cost of living in Paducah, KY?

    The median listed home in Paducah is $244,450 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 42% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,343 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $886 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025).

    How much would I save moving from New York to Paducah?

    The median listed home is $244,450 in Paducah against $742,000 in the New York metro, 67% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $2,734 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

    How much is rent in Paducah?

    The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Paducah metro is $886 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $1,111 more. The US median is $1,563.

    Does Paducah pay you to move there?

    Yes. Move to Paducah (Remote Workers Incentive Program) offers $5,000 cash. Who qualifies: 21+, work full time for an employer whose offices are all 100+ miles away (or self-employed), live 100+ miles from Paducah when applying, establish residency within 3 months, stay one year beyond the 12-month program; not in another publicly funded program.. Confirm current terms with the program.

    What is the weather like in Paducah?

    January lows average 27.3°F and July highs 89.9°F, with 8.9 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Barkley Regional Airport).

    Notes on the numbers
    1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
    2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
    3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
    4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
    5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
    6. 6Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
    7. 7Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Barkley Regional Airport.
    8. 8Incentives: terms come from each program's page. Confirm eligibility with the program before you move.
    Sources for this page