You need roughly $55,000/year to live well in Paducah. After taxes that’s about $3,713/month, which covers a 3-bedroom at HUD’s Fair Market Rent of $1,375/month, groceries, transport, healthcare, and a 25% savings buffer. Of the occupations BLS tracks in Paducah, about 10 pay at least that much at the median. Most occupations in the area don't get there.
Monthly budget to live well
Based on HUD FMR for Paducah (RPP 86.08). All figures are monthly unless noted.
Expense
Monthly
Annual
Rent (HUD FMR 3BR ×1.3)
$1,375
$16,500
Groceries
$600
$7,200
Transportation
$500
$6,000
Healthcare
$300
$3,600
Savings (25%)
$928
$11,136
Required take-home
$3,713
$44,556
Required gross salary
$55,000/year
Jobs in Paducah that pay $55,000+/year
These occupations have median salaries at or above what you need to live well.
To live well in Paducah you need roughly $55,000/year gross, or about $3,713/month in take-home pay. This covers rent at the HUD FMR of $1,375/month, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and 25% savings.
Is this realistic for the Paducah job market?
10 BLS-tracked occupations in the Paducah metro pay $55,000/year or more at the median. A limited number of fields hit this bar.
How much of that goes to rent?
Rent takes 37% of monthly take-home in this scenario. The HUD Fair Market Rent for Paducah is $1,375/month for a 3-bedroom. The rest splits across groceries ($600), transportation ($500), and healthcare ($300).
What if I want to save more than 25%?
This budget targets a 25% savings rate. To push that to 35%, add roughly 10 to 15% to the gross figure, putting you near $61,600/year. Alternatively, trim variable costs. Groceries and transportation have more flexibility than rent.
How does Paducah compare to other metros for this lifestyle?
The bare minimum in Paducah is around $40,000/year on a tight budget, covering a 1-bedroom at the HUD FMR. A comfortable lifestyle requires $40,000/year. Use the comparison table above or the compare tool to check other metros side by side.
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."
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