Berea, located in Kentucky, is a city known for its vibrant arts community and educational institutions. Understanding the cost of living in Berea is crucial for anyone considering moving to or residing in the city.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of various expenses, including dining, groceries, transportation, housing, and utilities, to help you make informed financial decisions.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $6 on average, with a range between $6 and $30.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $77.5, with prices ranging from $60 to $180.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $6, with a range between $6 and $10.
  • Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $4.5 to $7, imported beer $4 to $7.5, cappuccino $3 to $8, and Coke/Pepsi $2 to $3.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced between $0.9 and $1.03 per liter, averaging $0.97.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $2.54 and $4.73, with an average price of $3.27.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $1.75 to $5.49, averaging $2.75.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $2.2 to $5.51 per kg, while oranges range from $1 to $4.39 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $1 and $2.76 per kg, and lettuce costs $1 to $3.99 per head.

Transportation

  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $0.72 and $0.99 per liter, averaging $0.84.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $5, with a cost of $0.81 to $1.55 per km and $30 to $36 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Data not available for city centre rent prices.
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Data not available for outside centre rent prices.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - Data not available for buying prices in the city centre.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (Outside Centre) - Data not available for buying prices outside the centre.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost between $102 and $324.8, averaging $204.07.
  • Internet - Internet services range from $50 to $100, with an average cost of $67.
Worldwide
United States

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for the United States are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in United States, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.

Highest to LowestUpdated: Dec, 2024
Full Cost of Living Rankings

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 1 user contributions, as of the most recent update in November, 2024.
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$6.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$77.50
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$6.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.00
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00
Cappuccino (regular)
$5.00
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$0.97
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$3.27
Eggs (regular) (12)
$2.75
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.53
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$6.00
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.54
Apples (1kg)
$4.80
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31
Potato (1kg)
$2.28
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86
Rice (white), (1kg)
$3.17
Tomato (1kg)
$4.93
Banana (1kg)
$1.42
Onion (1kg)
$3.69
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$15.33
Transportation
Avg / Range
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
$36,088.95
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.00
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$1.55
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
$26,553.03
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$204.07
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$67.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$49.00
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$12.50
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.80
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$51.67
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$103.17
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$120.60
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
6.61%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$1,133.33
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
$20,900.00
Berea Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Berea offers a relatively affordable cost of living, especially in terms of dining and grocery prices.

Transportation costs are moderate, with gasoline prices being quite reasonable.

Utility costs are average, but housing data is not available, making it difficult to assess the full cost of living.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Berea, KY, presents a cost-effective living environment with affordable dining and grocery options.

While transportation and utility costs are manageable, the lack of housing data suggests potential residents should research further to understand rental and property purchase costs.

Overall, Berea is an attractive option for those seeking a balance between cost and quality of life.