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Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Cost of living in Carter County, KY

Part of the Huntington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,482/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 26,515 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $661 27%
Healthcare $480 19%
Federal tax $354 14%
Transport $320 13%
Groceries $312 13%
Energy $194 8%
State tax $106 4%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Carter County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$657
per month
1 bedroom
$661
per month
2 bedroom
$867
per month
3 bedroom
$1,215
per month
4 bedroom
$1,301
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Carter County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$50,389
per year
Individual earnings
$31,699
per year
Per capita
$27,184
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Carter County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$126,100
Annual property tax
$622

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Carter County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$140
per month · 13.3¢/kWh
Natural gas
$54
per month
Annual total
$2,328
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Carter County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
8.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Carter County

State and local tax rates for Kentucky.

State income tax
4.0%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Carter County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.6 min
Drive alone
81.0%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
2.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Carter County

What it costs to live in Carter County each month.

Single person
$2,482
per month
  • Rent $661
  • Energy $194
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $312
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $354
  • State tax $106
Couple
$3,632
per month
  • Rent $867
  • Energy $233
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $517
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $498
  • State tax $168
Family
$6,101
per month
  • Rent $1,215
  • Energy $291
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $784
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $498
  • State tax $168

Frequently asked questions about Carter County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Carter County?

In Carter County, KY, a one-bedroom apartment averages $661 per month, a two-bedroom averages $867 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,215 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Carter County?

In Carter County, KY, the average household income is $50,389 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $31,699 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Carter County?

The estimated cost of living in Carter County, KY is approximately $2,482 per month for a single person, $3,632 for a couple, $6,101 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Carter County?

The combined sales tax rate in Carter County, KY is 6.00%, which includes the Kentucky state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.00%.

Is Carter County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Carter County, KY would need approximately $2,482 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $50,389 per year ($4,199 per month). Carter County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Carter County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Carter County, KY is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 8.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Carter County?

The average home value in Carter County, KY is $126,100, with average annual property taxes of $622, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Carter County compare to other areas?

You can compare Carter County, KY with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Carter County is in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area.

Other counties in Kentucky

Browse the full list of counties in Kentucky, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Kentucky

Compare Carter County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources