Studio Rent · August 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Lexington, KY

$864/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Lexington, Kentucky as of August 2026. That's +44% lower than the citywide median of $1,552 and +33% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$864
August 2026
vs city overall
-44%
$1,552 city median
vs national
-33%
$1,290 US median
Kentucky rank
#17
of 34 cities

Income needed for a studio in Lexington

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$34,560
Monthly gross
$2,880
Hourly (full-time)
$16.62

Rent by apartment size in Lexington

Compare Lexington's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$864
1-Bedroom
$1,061
2-Bedroom
$1,261
3-Bedroom
$1,713
4+ Bedroom
$1,929

Cheapest cities for a studio in Kentucky

#CityStudio rent
1Morehead$630
2Bardstown$660
3Paducah$720
4Nicholasville$730
5Versailles$730
6Winchester$730
7Richmond$740
8Murray$770
9Georgetown$780
10Lawrenceburg$780
11Hopkinsville$800
12Newport$800
13Radcliff$800
14Bellevue$820
15Dayton$820

Most expensive cities for a studio in Kentucky

#CityStudio rent
1Prospect$1,510
2Hebron$1,150
3Burlington$1,080
4Louisville$1,061
5Vine Grove$1,060
6La Grange$1,030
7Independence$1,030
8Florence$980
9Shelbyville$940
10Shepherdsville$930
11Elizabethtown$910
12Oak Grove$890
13Fort Thomas$890
14Erlanger$890
15Bowling Green$890

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Lexington.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Lexington
Nicholasville, KY11.3 mi$730$-134 (-16%)
Georgetown, KY15.9 mi$780$-84 (-10%)
Versailles, KY17 mi$730$-134 (-16%)
Richmond, KY21.9 mi$740$-124 (-14%)
Winchester, KY24.3 mi$730$-134 (-16%)
Frankfort, KY29.8 mi$880+$16 (+2%)
Lawrenceburg, KY33.6 mi$780$-84 (-10%)
Shelbyville, KY51.1 mi$940+$76 (+9%)
Independence, KY63.1 mi$1,030+$166 (+19%)
Florence, KY68.4 mi$980+$116 (+13%)
La Grange, KY68.7 mi$1,030+$166 (+19%)
Bardstown, KY68.8 mi$660$-204 (-24%)

Studio rent in Lexington — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Lexington?

As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Lexington, Kentucky is $864 per month. This is +44% below the citywide median of $1,552.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Lexington?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $34,560 ($2,880/month gross), which works out to roughly $16.62/hour at a full-time job.

Is Lexington expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Lexington's studio median of $864 is +33% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 15th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Lexington rank for studio rent in Kentucky?

Among the 34 cities in Kentucky with studio data, Lexington ranks #17 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Lexington?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Nicholasville ($730), Georgetown ($780), Versailles ($730).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Lexington, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.