Skip to content
AffordMap

Can You Afford a 2-Bedroom in Kentucky? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,110/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom in Kentucky. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $5,068/year before taxes.Kentucky is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,110/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

Kentucky is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,110/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $1,110/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$32,460$2,27948.7%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$34,850$2,43145.7%Too much
Median$36,110$2,51244.2%Too much
Experienced (75th pct.)$44,720$3,05936.3%Stretch
Top earners (90th pct.)$59,590$4,00527.7%OK

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 2-Bedroom in Kentucky

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Commercial Divers
$63,550/yr median
Brokerage Clerks
$57,690/yr median
Dermatologists
$195,830/yr median
Radiologists
$279,990/yr median
Athletes and Sports Competitors
$63,020/yr median
Lodging Managers
$59,440/yr median
Physicians, Pathologists
$324,390/yr median
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
$97,950/yr median

Keep exploring Kentucky

Top paying jobs in KentuckyCost of living in KentuckyCan you afford a 1-bedroom?Can you afford a 3-bedroom?

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 2-bedroom in Kentucky?
You need roughly $5,068/year gross to keep a 2-bedroom at $1,110/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That assumes a 27% effective tax rate and single filing.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kentucky?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for Kentucky as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,110/month as a proxy.
Is Kentucky expensive for renters?
Kentucky is below the national average in cost. A 2-bedroom at the HUD FMR of $1,110/month is more manageable here than in most metros.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in Kentucky?
The following occupations in Kentucky have median salaries that keep 2-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Commercial Divers, Brokerage Clerks, Dermatologists, Radiologists, Athletes and Sports Competitors, Lodging Managers, Physicians, Pathologists, Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, AffordMap may receive compensation at no cost to you. This never influences the salary data, cost-of-living figures, or calculations shown, all data comes from U.S. government sources. See our full disclosure.