Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Paducah, Kentucky

Buildings on Broadway in Paducah, Kentucky.
Photo by Farragutful via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Paducah cost of living

A lower-cost starting point with car, flood, housing, and seasonal expenses to verify

The catalog estimates $2,466 per month for a local lifestyle, $4,107 for a couple, $3,338 for a traveler, and $3,162 for an expat proxy. It lists $506 one-bedroom gross rent, $934 two-bedroom gross rent, $239 utilities, $460 groceries, $1,064 transportation, $436 healthcare, $73.30 dining out, and 407.04 Mbps internet. These are planning fields, not a personal household quote.

The rent anchor is gross rent, so a renter should ask what utilities are already included before adding the separate $239 estimate. Homeowners need the exact tax bill, insurance, flood coverage, maintenance, roof, HVAC, and drainage costs. The catalog labels property taxes Moderate and lists a 0.84% effective rate, $1,390 median real-estate taxes, and a $165,300 median home value.

The transportation component is $1,064 and the catalog marks car use Required. Include fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration, tires, parking, hospital trips, airport travel, and a backup ride. PATS may reduce selected trips, but its route, hours, reservations, and final walk should be priced from the actual address.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,466 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$506
Utilities (in rent)
$239
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$3,338

Very Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,107

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$506

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$225/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Moderate

Fair

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
15.1%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
30.5%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
29.2%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$37,447

Could Paducah fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

Your entries stay in this browser and are not included in analytics.

Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,466 per month
Two people
$4,107 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$506
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Paducah in everyday life

Could Paducah work for you?

What may work well

  • The catalog provides a clear starting set of $506 one-bedroom gross rent, $934 two-bedroom gross rent, $460 groceries, $436 healthcare, and $73.30 dining out.
  • Moderate property taxes, PATS, parks, hospitals, a library, and a seasonal market can support a practical smaller-city budget.
  • The 407.04 Mbps internet field and direct city rent anchors give a useful basis for comparing specific addresses.

What to think about

  • Transportation is listed at $1,064 per month and car use is Required, so the headline rent can understate the full household cost.
  • Flood insurance, drainage, HVAC, roof, utilities, property taxes, medical rides, and regional travel can materially change the total.
  • The catalog's components use different source levels and are not a guarantee of a lease, insurance quote, care premium, or household spending pattern.

Create a Paducah household budget from the exact address

  1. Separate the catalog inputs

    Start with the local, couple, traveler, expat, rent, grocery, utility, transport, healthcare, and dining fields, then mark which values require direct quotes.

  2. Price the home

    Ask for rent or purchase costs, deposit, insurance, property taxes, flood coverage, utilities, HVAC history, roof, drainage, parking, maintenance, and accessibility.

  3. Price movement

    Include a car, fuel, insurance, repairs, registration, PATS, taxis, airport trips, hospital travel, parking, and family visits.

  4. Keep a seasonal reserve

    Hold funds for a hot utility bill, storm repair, flood deductible, winter ice, medical ride, prescription, roof or HVAC issue, and a move-in repair.

Questions retirees ask

How much money do I need to retire in Paducah?

The catalog estimates $2,466 per month for a local lifestyle and $4,107 for a couple. It lists $506 one-bedroom gross rent, $934 two-bedroom gross rent, $239 utilities, $460 groceries, $1,064 transportation, $436 healthcare, and $73.30 dining out. Add actual car, care, insurance, flood, tax, and home costs.

Are Paducah homes affordable?

The catalog's one-bedroom gross-rent anchor is $506 and the two-bedroom anchor is $934, with a median home value of $165,300 and Moderate property taxes. Confirm the actual home, insurance, flood coverage, utilities, HVAC, roof, maintenance, and neighborhood.

Why is transportation so high?

The catalog lists transportation at $1,064 and marks car use Required. The field is a planning estimate, not a personal car quote. Price fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration, parking, hospital trips, airport travel, taxis, and PATS from the chosen address.

Are flood costs part of the catalog budget?

The catalog's budget does not replace a flood-insurance quote or property review. Check FEMA maps, elevation, drainage, basement or crawl space, prior claims, deductible, and road access before buying or renting.

Paducah's cost picture starts attractively but needs an honest car and water review. Use the catalog fields to create a household ledger, then obtain the actual lease or purchase costs, insurance, flood exposure, utility history, car plan, healthcare costs, and seasonal reserve before deciding.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.

Partner with Retirement Lists

Research and writing by

How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.